RISING WATERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 10

RISING WATERS.

[RENEWAL IN THE NORTH FURTHER DAMAGE OCCURS. RAILWAYS AND ROADS. FLOOD CATCHES MOTORS. A WET TRANSFER MADE. [BY. TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT, WHANGAREI. Tuesday. After showing favourable siens of abatement tho floods in the district increased during the night, and although the water has risen and fallen again rapidly in some places, all road traffic in every direction is extremely hazardous and uncertain.

Word from the Hokianga and Mangonui districts tells of general damage by washouts and slips. As for Whangarei County the reports indicate that during the past 40 hours a large number of iflips, mostly of small size, have occurred en various Toutes, whilo in many places traffic was Tendered impossible for varying periods owing to the roads being under water. The Whangaref to Dargaville mail service ceased yesterday afternoon, the service car being held up near Mr. Redfern's property on the Kirikopuni flat, owing to tin road being too deeply flooded in places. A Dargaville car owner was Summoned, but not realising that the flood wa3 rising rapidly, he passed through some of the flooded portion of the roads in order to get as near as possible to Mr. Thornley's car. The mails had to be carried overhead from one car to the other, as the water in places was almost up to the necks of those doing this work. The passengers got through as best they could, tho ladies being taken over on horseback. When the Dargaville car turned round to go back the flood had risen to such an extent that water got into the engine and the car bed to be pushed through the water. It was necessary to take the ■engine to pieces before it would start. This occupied several hours. When Mr Thornley turned round to come back to Whangarei he estimated that there was 10ft. of water in places over the Kiro kupuni Flat. The latest report he re ceived was to .the effect that the flood was in the Kirikopuni store, and he doubts whether the party could get through to Dargaville. Since the Whangarei car returned a large slip has come down, and prevented further connection by motor between Dargaville and Whangarei. It is contended "that, the flood is worse than" that of 1917, when there was sft. of water up the walls of the Kirkopuni stores.

Railway under Water. A flood at Opahi and in the Ramarama , Valley submerged the railway tracks'to a depth of 2ft., when the train from Whangarei to Opua negotiated it this morning. As the flood was rising steadily, it was decided ihat the train this afternoon wonld not 30 farther .than Maromaku. Until a fall takes place, there will be no railway traffic at all between Maromaku and iKawakawa, which means that intending passengers by the Manaia to-night from the Far North will be unable to reach Onerahi. The morning train from Whangarei got through to Opua. i. A. wash-out ■ occurred on the Public Works line between Mangapai and Oakleigh yesterday. The Public Works Department is arranging to convey passengers to Portland from the site of the wash-out by means of a motor truck. The electricity current to Whangarei, Portland and Karoo from the Waivua Falls power station was cut off in the early hours of the morning in order that the machinery could be raised as a precaution against a further rise in the flood waters. The light was restored this evening, Break in Water Main.

The flood caused a break in the chief water main to Whangarei on Sunday night, and although it has been located the damage was considerable. Repairs are being carried out under difficulties. It is not known vet when the supply from that source will be restored, but in the meanwhile the Whau Valley supply has a. storage which will fill requirements lot three or four days. Floods in the Pipiwai Creek at Moengawahine last week were large enough to move .logs that had been lying there for the last 20 years and there was 3ft. of water under Mr. William Dyer's house A resident of Moengawahine states that the floods in the Moengawahine and Hiku rangi streams were the largest he has Been for 20 years. ■ In the Hikurangi swamp areas and ad jacent. localities the flood has now reached alarming proportions, but so far no loss oi slock or particular damage to die or to farmhouses has been reported from amy part of the Whangarei County. Three feet of water stopped traffic on the Poroti to Titoki road and some concern was entertained for the safety of tho Wairua bridge above the falls, where the fast flowing waters rose to within oft. of the tops of the structure. It is considered the bridge will bo seriously endangered if the waters reach the decking. The river is still rising and the fact that extensive damage has been occasioned in the adjoining district indicates the risk of a further rise. The Wairua has a huge waterhead to drain in the Hikurangi swamp and although it is slow to rise it does so steadily. Small slips on the roads have occurred in all parts of the district.

THE TONGABIKO RIVER.

RECORD HEIGHT REACHED. fVZ TZLEGBAPH. —OWX CORBESPONDENT.] TOEAANTT, Tuesday. The largest flood over experienced in the _ Tongariro River, which flows into Lake Taupo near Tokaann, occurred on Saturday morning last, when the river rose in three hours to a record height. During the flood hundreds of logs and trees were carried down, and the beaches on th 6 ; shore of the lake in the vicinity of th* mouth of the river are covered with a liberal supply of firewood, of whteh* nu doubt the Maoris and others will take it'll advantage. The river has now fallen, and is nearing normal. Anglers' camps that were previously considered safe wers partly inundated. Already a continual run of fresh fish is noticed leading up the river. Flood waters have left shoals of monster trout stranded in adjacent paddocks. The largest specimen topped the scale at 26zlb. Mr. and Mrs. Strang and party, of Palmerston North, who were camped on the Tongariro River for fishing during the recent deluge, wero compelled to seek signer ground by the aid of a Maori and thl,-r^ i Th * flooded wat€rs invaded sSart f™ ft a considerable depth, but %s&£?*£?** there ™ »° -u elp Ster? u^Tat wi i h fr breaking ohhTl ?" tTOuble "" the riro River. "* Bpanaw ß th « Tonga-

THE FOUR IN HAND MINE

DAMAGE NOT EXTENSIVE.

• -tFhe "secretary of the Four--in-Hand Mine BtiteS"that -wuilo some damage has been caused" at'- the mine by the' recent cloudburst at CJoromandel, 'it is not. by any pumas a» mnck as has been reported,