FLOOD IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 8

FLOOD IN THE NORTH.

KAIHU RIVER RISES.

WATER'S RAPID ADVANCE.

LOWER AREAS INUNDATED. ,

NO LOSS OF STOCK REPORTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAVILLE. Wednesday. Heavy rait) set i" hero early this morning, and although it abated somewl;a', in the afternoon it was still fulling this evening and showed no signs of ceasing :

Settlers in the Donnelly's Crossing, Whatoro and Maropiu districts report that the Kaihu River and its tributaries rose with alarming rapidity. At Maropiu the river rose 25ft. in a few hours, overflowing its banks in many places., Settlers state that they do not remember so much water coming down in such a short space of time, and although no loss of stock is reported there is every reason to believe that there will be a record flood.

A train returning from Donnelly s Crossing this afternoon was able to get through, but with difficulty, the line being under water in a number of places. It is feared that when the water gets down to the lower portions of the district it will be backed up by the tide to such an extent that no trains will be able to run to-morrow.

. The flood come at a bad time for the settlers, who were busy getting, in their crops of hay. It will cause a decided drop in the milk returns, as the cattle have had to be shifted from the rich flat to the higher ground in the upriver districts.

Avoca, Tangiterorea and Tangowahine also experienced a heavy fall of rain and all the creeks and rivers in the district are in high flood. No loss of stock is reported. There is a good deal of water in the lowlying portion of Dargaville, but as it takes a number of hours for the water to come down the Kaihu River, the full extent of the flood may not yet have reached the town.

PROBABILITY OF SLIPS.

POSITION ON RAILWAY.

WATER ALONG THE LINE.

Heavy rain set in throughout the North on Tuesday night and those who travelled South by the express yesterday had very little opportunity of seeing the country owing to the rain, which continued almost incessantly until late in the afternoon. At Waiotura Junction a fall of 3in. up. to noon was reported. Every: watercourse was a turbulent body of clay discoloured water and in places dozens of streams cascaded down the steep slopes. It is probable that a good many slips will have occurred on the cleared slopes. A slight slip on the line was encountered just north of {he Ahuroa tunnel. A gang. of workmen were already clearing it' when the train came along. ' It was delayed only a few minutes and it continued on its way bearing evidence of the slip on the steps of the" carriages. At Ahuroa a north-bound train was passed and the drivers exchanged information about the state of the line. The express stopped in the next tunnel, while the guard went ahead to report. He shouted "all clear," and that was so as far as the line was concerned. The train, however, passed under a small waterfall, as it issued from the tunnel and on the way on either : side bodies of stormwater were descending with a rush and roar from the bushy slopes. In other places the water was flowing on either side of the line arid in places had backed up in large ponds around culverts under embankments, it having accumulated too rapidly for their capacity. Owing to the force of this backed up water the points of issue resembled boiling cauldrons.

STORM IN THE WAIKATO.

TORRENTIAL RAIN FALLS.

DAMAGE DONE IN ORCHARDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.

CAMBRIDGE. Wednesday.

After a period of fine, settled weather heavy rain set in this morning throughout the district, increasing during the day and developing into an easterly gale this afternoon with torrential rain for a couple of hours.

The storm was the worst experienced since the winter. Much damage was done in orchards and gardens, and some trees were brought down in the district. No damage to stock lias yet been reported.

SHOP WINDOWS BEOKEN.

LORRY CAUGHT BY WIND.

HEAVY SIGN BLOWN DOWN.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.

WHANGAKEI. Wednesday.

Very heavy rain began to fall at about 5.30 this morning. The downpour continued practically unabated throughout tbe morning and into the afternoon, its magnitude being indicated by the gauge, which showed that up till 9 a.m. the fall had been 1.43 inches. In some quarters the rain has done good, a local gardener declaring that it had saved his extensive strawberry area, the duration of the crop being extended fully a fortnight.

Although the brakes were on a strong gust of wind at noon to-day started a motor-truck, which had been left on Harrison's Hill in Bank Street. It proceeded uninterruptedly on its course backwards, though the brakes kept, it from gathering way. Just above the Farmers' Union Trading Company's shop the vehicle swerved and backed over the kerb ing. and then ; nto ,a plate-glass window, which it smashed. The truck was not damaged.

At James' boarding house in Cameron Street a large and heavy suspension sign was blown down upon the footpath. It also smashed a large plate-glass window, but fortunately injured nobody in the busy locality.