HEAVY RAIN AND GALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18657, 13 March 1924, Page 8

HEAVY RAIN AND GALES.

DOWNPOUR AT TAIHAPE. I SLIPS ON THE RAILWAY. [bt TELEGKABn,--PRESS association.] -....;/ "AICHAPE, Wednesday. A heavy downpour of rain occurred in the Taihape district yesterday, two inches and .a-half falling in six hours. Small slips occurred on the railway between Taihape and Mataroa, but did not seriously delay traffic. Nevertheless, trains left Taihape much behind scheduled time. The 1 p.m. train for the North did not leave till late this afternoon. ; The northbound Main Trunk express left 20 minutes late. . Passengers had . been informed that the could not go beyond Taihape, and many had booked a night's accommmodation at local hotels. They were later advised that the train could get through, however, and the hotel arrangements were : cancelled. The train was held at Mataroa till advice came from Ohakune that it might safely proceed. SUPS NEAE TAXJMAEUKUI. EXPRESS AGAIN DELAYED. FOUR INCHES OF RAIN., TBY TBLSQBJIPH.—-OW1? CORRESPONDENT.] TAUMAEUNUI. Wednesday. The heavy rainfall experienced in this district since Sunday resulted in the Wanganui River rising 18 inches. Two slips took place on tho -railway -line south of ' Taumarunui, one below Kakahi, which was cleared ,in hiilf-an-hour, and another at Hihitahi, which caused thi> Welling-ton-Auckland express to be held up for an hour. The rainfall since Sunday is just over four W-hes. A heavy gale blew last night, but the woather is fine to-day. COMMUNICATION BLOCKED TRAIN SERVICE AFFECTED. | TELEGRAPH- LINE DOWN. i . [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] j BASTINGS, Wednesday. | Communication with Napier by rail was interrupted last night soon after the Wellington-Napier express got I through, and the Napier-Hastings section was temporarily closed by the flood j waters, which marooned the south-bound I express in Napier. To maintain the service a train was 'built up with the available rolling stcck at Hastings and | despatched to Wellington at time-table .time. :.....( Water is still ,over the road north of | Clive, but a car took a risk and brought | a few passengers from Napier to connect with the train.

. Communications are interrupted everywhere through tho flooded area, and it is impossible as yet to get full details /of the damage. The telegraph line is down between ( Napier' and Hastings. I TATTPO NAPIER ROAD BLOCKED. ■ _;:/- : /.''./V'};-'- :/:J~— : ( (( ; / WASHOUT AND LANDSLIPS. i•' •' , % \ -I (BY TELEGRAPH. — * CORRESPONDENT.] TAUPO. Wednesday. : Owing to the heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday then} is a complete blockage on the Taupo-Napier road. There is a washout on the Napier side of Te Pohu© and landslips miles this side. ( : ( It will probably be two or three days before traffic is able to get through. Passengers who i; left \ here , yesterday remained at Tara.wera . and are returning to-night. The weather is now fine. TATJSAITGA ORCHARDS SUITER. UNUSUALLY SEVERE STORM. [BT TELEGSAPIT.-l-OWH CORRESPONDED' TAURAITQA. Wednesday, iAn exceptionally strong gale - set in yesterday afternoon and continued until after midnight. / There was a moderate quantity of rain end a marked fall in the temperature. ( ; ■ '(/ : .i;--/.'."'(/J/:- ( The wind caused much damage in gardens, and large quantities of fruit were shaken off *in orchards all over the district. Trees were blown * down and branches of otheis were smashed. The maize crops in unprotected situations were badly beaten down by the storm; Many launches and yachts in the harbour dragged their anchors. Some" of the vessels came: into contact with each other or were driven tshorej and as a result were more or I<sb damaged. Several boats broke through the palisading of the public baths. Many owners of : boats experienced an anxious time and had to battle against th<i elements for hours in order to save their craft. . It is " a /long time since such a severe storm was experienced here. Orchftrdista Will be the principal sufferers.