WIDE AREA AFFECTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 12

WIDE AREA AFFECTED.

MANY ROADS UNDER WATER.

FLOODING NEAR POKENO.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE WRECKED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] POKENO. Tuesday. Heavy flooding in the Mangatawhiri Valley, about eight miles from Pokeno, resulted from the heavy rain of yesterday and last night. The Mangatawhiri Creek rose rapidly and before nightfall was overflowing its banks. This morning the flood waters, besides inundating many acres of farm land, covered considerable lengths of the Paeroa-Pokeno main highway and the Mangatawhiri Valley Road, rendering both impassable for several hours and also wrecking the suspension bridge for pedestrians at McKenzie's Crossing, Mangatawhiri Valley. This morning the depth posts on the portion of the highway subject to flood showed just on 3ft. of water and the road was covered for about a-cfuarter of a mile. A little nearer Pokeno, at the twin bridge, another 20yds. of the road were covered. Cars and other vehicles had to be towed by horse through the flooded length, a neighbouring settler providing the necessary horse and gear for the purpose. The flood waters on this road receded almost as quickly as they had risen, and this afternoon the road was passable for motor traffic. On the Mangatawhiri Valley Road there was a heavy flood all day and for nearly a mile a swirling torrent of water raced along the road, varying in depth up to about 3ft. The only means of negotiating this length was by horse, and even this was a difficult task. With the pedestrian bridge down at McKenzie's and the Valley Road under water, settlors and their families in the valley are cut off from mail services. However, hare also the water was receding "rapidly this afternoon and . it should not be long before the road is again negotiable for ordinary traffic. The -force of the current in the Mangatawhiri Creek when the flood was at its height is indicated by the wrecked suspension bridge. The concrete block to which it was anchored at one end and which is estimated to weigh several tons, was lifted out of its bed and a willow tree which acted as a backstay was pulled over. A well-known settler of the valley, Mr. R. Lvons, had an unenviable experience last evening. He was motoring home from Auckland and on turning into the Valley Road found flood waters were already over it He endeavoured to drive though, but his engine stalled. He then had to leave his wife, an invalid, in the car and hurry back to Mr. P. Pendergast's house, about a mile away, for assistance. With darkness coming on and the water rising, with the aid of Mr. Pendergast's horse, the car was towed through the flood.

OTHER CENTRES SUFFER

STEAMER IN A GALE

Reports from other centres in the province indicate the wide area affected by the storm. Exceptionally heavy rain fell at Tanranga* on Monday .night, and the rivers in- the district were in flood yesterday. The Wairoa rose 12ft. Lowlying lands were inundated but no loss of stock was reported. A strong northeasterly wind accompanied the ram. The steamer Matangi encountered the full force of the storm on the way from Auckland to Tauranga, and was compelled to shelter at Mercury Island, leaving there at daylight and arriving at Tauranga yesterday afternoon. Hollows and low-lying land all over the PukekohS district were under water yesterday. In the morning water was flowing across the Pukekohe-Waiuku Road and the Cabbage : Tree Swamp, near the Pukekoho borough boundary. Other roads were also flooded. Water rose to an uncomfortable depth in the doorways of some houses in low-lying positions, causing much inconvenience. The flood waters were subsiding Quickly with the fine weather experienced yesterday. At Whitijinga a gale was experienced on Monday night, and the fishing launch John Kennedy dragged her 'anfchor. She was discovered this morning a mile outside the harbour. No one was on board and the heavy sea made it dangerous to approach her. Later the boat was driven in through the breakers on to Buffalo Beach. Tackle was fastened on to the launch, and with the aid of horses and many willing hands it was dragged above high water mark, apparently not much damaged. Owing to slips on* the road vehicles will be unable to get through to Coromandel for a few days. There was a cyclonic storm, with heavy rain, at Warkworth on Monday night, and the rainfall for the 24 hours, was 5.40 in., a record fall for the time in the district. Except, for a few wash-outs on the roads no serious damage is reported.

DOWNPOUR AT WAIHI.

EIGHT INCHES IN 24 HOURS,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WAIHI, Tuesday. For the 24 hours ended 8 o'clock this morning a rainfall of 'B.6in. was recorded in Waihi. It is a record. In spite of this great fall comparatively little damage has occurred in the town, although much inconvenience was caused. Through the streams over-running their banks the municipal gasworks were inundated and suffered most x but it will not be possible to assess the damage until the water has been pumped out. The only other damage -of consequence in the borough was the washing away of a small bridge in Symonds Street, the replacement of which will cost £SO or £6O. Much low-lying land toward Paeroa was flooded, and traffic between Waihi and Paeroa was temporarily held up owing to lengths of the main road being under water, in some places to a depth of 4ft. tor sft. Reports from Katikati indicate that much of jthe low 'country eastward from Waihi was flooded, and that many of the huts of the workers employed on the East Coast railway works were inundated. The lino is said to have suffered considerably in places as the result oi slips and wash-outs, while parts of the road between Athenree and Katikati and iho latter township and Tauranga have been rendered practically impassable for motor traffic. The weather is again fine.

POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED.

TREES FALL OVER LINES,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AROJIA, Tuesday.

A gale accompanied by torrential rain and vivid flushes of lightning swept Te Aroha and the surrounding districts last night arid caused considerable interruptions to the electric power supply, the chief cause of the trouble being falling trees. The power supply failed at midnight and was not restored until after daylight this morning. The telephone ■wires on the main road were severed nejir Wailiou by a falling tree and considerable damage was done to sheds and haystacks all over the district. Tho storm ceased this morning as suddenly as it began. A severe storm swept over Morrinsville last evening and continued for about seven hours.- The wind' interruption to tho electric power supply. All farmers in the district had to milk the cjows .by hand until 7 a.m. this morning wlifcn' a'ltnv volta'ge pViwer was available, but the current kept faihng.