FLOODS IN THE COUNTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 10

FLOODS IN THE COUNTRY.

KING COUNTRY SUFFERS, MOTOR TRAFFIC BLOCKED. RIVERS RUNNING VERY HIGH. HANGATIKI AREA UNDER WATER. [by telegraph.--own correspondent.] TE KUITI. Sunday. The heavy rainfall has brought about flood conditions in the town and neighbouring district. The Mangaokewa River was at a high level yesterday, and rose 4ft. to sft. in tho night. There has been a washout in the public gardens and the war memorial is surrounded by water. The lawer portion of tho Esplanade is covered by sft. of water, and part of the road is closed. Although there has been no very serious damage in the town, the floods have resulted in the district being cut off from New Plymouth. The Te Kumi Road is covered and motor-cars cannot get through, although some motor-lorries have done so. No service cars were able to come from New Plymouth to-day. The Mokau River has risen to a great height. There is also trouble at Uruti owing to floods. The Te Kumi Road via Moiroa is also blocked, and there is 4ft. of water on the main New Plymouth road for eight to ten miles from Te Kuiti. Tho water is very deep near Piopio. At Hangatiki the floods are the worst for several years. It is flat country and is almost entirely under water. Tho flood has slightly covered the railway line and is 2ft. deep on the road. n RISE OF iWAIKATO RIYER HIGHEST LEVEL THIS YEAR. WHARF OFFICES IN DANGER. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Sunday. Heavy rain fell in Hamilton throughout the week-end. All outdoor sports yesterday had to bo abandoned. The Waikato River rose rapidly to-day and is now higher than it has previously' been this year. The floors of offices on the Roose Shipping Company's wharf at Hamilton are inundated and the offices have been roped down to prevent them being washed away. CONDITIONS AT MERCER, THE MAIN ROAD FLOODED. [BY TEXEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] MERCER. Sunday. The weather broko yesterday and over an inch of rain fell during the night. Heavy rain set in again this evening. The river, which had been falling since Friday, is rising again. Behind the railway station the road is covered by 15in. of water. Motor traffic to-day passed through without difficulty, but it may be necessary to employ horses tomorrow to pull cars through. This will bo the third occasion this year on which motor traffic has been interrupted. Owing to the inflow of water the timber mill, will be closed down until the river falls. TROUBLE IN MANAWATU. RIVER OVERFLOWS BANKS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Sunday. Heavy rain over the Manawatu and Oroua watershed has caused these rivers to rise rapidly and they are already in semi-flood. Water is . going through breaks in stopbanks of the Oroua caused during the heavy flood in July, and settlers are removing stock. It is feared that when the waters reach the neighbourhood of.Foxton to-morrow a large area will be flooded. POSITION IN TARANAKI. RAINING FOR TEN DAYS. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Sunday. For the past ten days North Taranaki has experienced almost continuous rain which, under mild conditions, has produced a great growth of grass. The ground, however, has now been thoroughly soaked and with low-lying land becoming waterlogged a spell of sunshine is eagerly awaited by farmers. All streams are considerably swollen and in some places south of Inglewood the main road has been Sin. or 4in. under water. No serious damage has been reported. Fears were entertained that the flood in the Waitara River would cause further erosion of the bank on the town side where it was so serious in the flood in July, but on this occasion the waters do not appear to have made much inroad. Owing to heavy rain all outside gatherings were postponed yesterday. WELLINGTON DOWNPOUR. LITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED. [BY TELEGRAPH.- —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. For the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day 2.45 in. of rain fell in the city. At midnight the downpour was torrential, the water banking up over footpaths and into houses and shop premsies in some of the lower levels. No damage is reported from tho country or towns beyond a few small slips and washouts, although the Hntt River is in flood.