NORTH TARANAKI AREA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 8

NORTH TARANAKI AREA.

THE ISOLATION OF URUTI. WATER IN THE POST OFFICE. ROAD COMMUNICATION BLOCKED [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday. Rain has been falling in North Taranaki practically without intermission since Saturday afternoon, with the result that the rivers are in high flood. Low-lying areas are under water. Floods have isolated the Uruti township, and rendered the main north road impassable. Mail and passenger services on that route were interrupted to-day, and it is doubtful whether the load will be open to-morrow. In New Plymouth, rain has been falling steadily since early on Saturday afternoon, and the total fall registered up to 1 p.m. to-day was over 3in. Surface water is lying everywhere, in many places to a fair depth, and in several localities the roads have been flooded by blocked watercourses.

Uruti was isolated to-day, the township being cut off by Hood waters both north and south. The water rose during the night in two streams, which junction at Uruti, and when the inhabitants awakened it was to find their dwellings surrounded by water. At about 7 a.m. the postmistress, alarmed at the presence of about 18in. of water over the post office floor, called for assistance to remove the safe to a building less dangerously situated. Fortunately, the water did not continue to rise, but,the post office could not be occupied to-day.

Imprisoned in Dwellings. The occupants of several houses were imprisoned by the flood, the depth of water being too great to traverse except by swimming. The main road was indistinguishable at Uruti, the water being well over the fence tops. It was stated that the rise of water must have been at least 30ft, from thfe normal level of the streams. High-water was at about 10 a.m., and as the tide fell the backed-up waters were released to some extent. At 1 o'clock it'was stated that the level at Uruti had fallen about 2ft., but lain was still falling, and it is expected that at high tide to-night the position will be as bad as ever.

Service cars going north this morning encountered a flooded road for several miles on this side -of Uruti, and had to "turn back. The fact of there being further floods at and northward of Uruti made it impossible for passengers tp make a detour on foot and join other cars be"yond the flooded area. Some passengers bound for Auckland were taken south on the blockage being discovered, and connected with the Main Trunk at Marton.

Delays Caused to Mails. The mail for Awaklno and intermediate points was held up at Urenui to-day. The letter mail from Auckland, which usually arrives by motor at 3 p.m., came by mail train, arriving nearly five hours later. One motor service firm was advised that there are two slips on Mount Messenger. This and the uncertainty regarding 1 the' duration of the floods make it doubtful whether the New Plymouth-Te Kuiti route will be open to-morrow. From Waitara, it. was reported this afternoon that the rivsr was already as high as during the record flood of 1915, and it was expected that thp water might be over the wharf at high tide. To-niglit acres pf the river flat were covered by the flood.

DROWNED AT A FORD. MAN CAUGHT IN CURRENT. CROSSING WITH A VEHICLE. [by telegraph.—press association.] PAL&ERSTON NORTH. Monday. While attempting to cross the Kahuterawa Stream at Fitzherbert with, a horse and trap yesterday, a young man, Frederick Brown, of Palmerston North, was drowned. The deceased and a companion, William Doyle/left their camp in the Kahuterawa Valley, where they had been trapping opossums, to return to Palmerston North. On reaching the flooded stream Doyle, who did not consider the crossing' safe, left the horse and trap in charge of Brown and went upstream, where he crossed on some suspension wires. Meanwhile Brown tried to cross the ford and the vehicle was washed downstream. Brown clung to the mane,of the horse, but was soon carried away by the strong current. After an unsuccesslul search for his companion's body Doyle returned to Palmerston North.

BOY LOSES HIS LIFE. S.ENT ON A MESSAGE. BODY FOUND BY SEARCHERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, Monday. The floods h;id a fatal sequel at Okoia, five miles from Wanganui, where a boy named William Alfred Naughton, _aged 11 years, was drowned in a swollen stream, which had risen over the main road. He had been sent on a message to a store and failed to return. Searchers found the body 400 yards down the stream. The boy is beljeved to have lost his footing while travelling on the flooded road.

BRIDGES WASHED .AWAY. REPORT FROM FEILDING. TROUBLES OF THE SETTLERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FEILDING. Monday. Forty-eight hours of continuous rain has resulted in unprecedented flooding of rivers and streams. Several small Bridges have been washed away. Much land is under water. The settlers have had difficulties with their stock, but wrserlous losses are reported. In one or two cases houses have been flooded. The rivers are at the highest level recorded for 25 years. The rain has now ceased and the flood waters are subsiding already. Communication with Palmerston North and other centres is still impossible by road.