DELUGE AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16876, 14 June 1918, Page 4

DELUGE AT WAIHI.

BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY.

WASHOUT ON RAILWAY.

INTERRUPTION OF TRAFFIC

[BY TELEGRAPH-OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WAIHI. Thursday. Low-lying land in the Waihi district is flooded. Rain set in on Monday morning, and has fallen almost continuously, the fall last night and this morning being torrential. During the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day a total of 8.15 in of ram fell.

The Ohinemuri River rose rapidly, and this morning over-ran its banks at some points, with the result that several cottages on low-lying ground were flooded, though the damage done was not great. The Mataura traffic bridge, some four or five miles above Waihi. was swept away. rutting off communication with settlers there, and the Victoria Street- swingbridge, giving access to part of Waihi Plains from the township, was thrown out of position, one end being swept into the stream. There was a fairly extensive washout on the Government railway line some two miles below Waihi station, and the express did not leave tine morning. A special train from Paeroa left shortly after mid-day, and pulled up on the Paeroa side of the interruption, where the passengers were taken round the break and brought on by a train waiting on the Waihi side. A considerable quantitv of ballast was swept away from the lines further down, and it will probably be three or four days before the damage is repaired and the normal train service is restored.

The weather continued threatening throughout the day, with occasional showers, but the worst of the storm appears to be over, and the water in the Ohinemuri River is falling rapidly.