FLOODS' ON RAILWAY.

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

FLOODS' ON RAILWAY.

SERVICE DISORGANISED. | THE MAIN NORTH LINE. EXPRESS HELD UP OVERNIGHT. Landslides and later extensive flooding following the heavy rains of Monday were responsible for the disorganising of the train services on the North railway line yesterday. On account of the flooding of the line at Hoteo no trains were able to negotiate that portion. Although yesterday's morning's express was able to pass through .beforo the water rose, the express from the North has been held up overnight and is not expected to arrive until about noon to-day, about 18 hours after scheduled time. The train which left Auckland for Whangarei on Monday afternoon was held up at Waiotira for about eight hours on account of a slip of about 300 cubic yards of soil. The train reached Waiotira at 11.30 p.m. on Monday night and at seven o'clock yesterday morning the journey was resumed. "• Relief gangs worked all night on the slip. The train arrived at Whangarei at nine o'cldck. The 7.10 a.m. Maungaturoto-Auckland train was delayed at Bickerstaffe while a minor slip was repaired and the train arrived at the city an hour late. A small wash-out at Te Hana, near Wellsford, was repaired yesterday morning. The express from Auckland yesterday morning was delayed at Kaukapakapa for almost an hour on account of a slip between Kanohi and Makarau. The line was clear of slips yesterday morning.' A new inconvenience , arose with the flooding of the line near Hoteo and the tidal waters swirled over a stretch between Way by and Hoteo, for a distance of about a mile. The water was reported to be over 4ft. deep in some places. The train which left Whangarei for Auckland at nine o'clock was blocked at Wayby on her arrival there early in the afternoon. As there was no possibility of getting through the trip was cancelled and the train did not continue its journey. A special train left Helensville yesterday afternoon at 4.25, running in place of the train which is scheduled to • pass through there at 3.50 p.m. The train which left Auckland at 6.55 a.m. yesterday was not able to proceed past Kaipara Flats. The train for Maungaturoto which left the city at • 9.50 a.m. was held up at Ahuroa. The daily express which left Whangarei at about noon was halted at Maungaturoto, pending the receding of the flood waters at Hoteo. However, the waters continued to rise through the late afternoon and it was soon seen that there was no possibility of passing through last evening. Accordingly, the express remained at Maungaturoto, accommodation being provided for the passengers. The floods will be again inspected this morning and if the water' has receded sufficiently, the train will leave at 7.30 a.m. The express is expected to > arrive at Auckland at 11.45 a.m. this morning. The Whangarei-Opua line was also affected by flood waters. At Opahi the water was a foot above the bottom, step on the railway carriages and the station platform and approaches were inundated. One train was forced to stop on account of logs being washed on the line.

CONDITIONS IN NORTH.

DAMAGE DONE AT KAITAIA.

WATER IN BUSINESS PREMISES

[BY . TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.} KAITAIA, Tuesday. A heavy north-easterly, gale, ..accompanied by heavy rain, was experienced last night, with more heavy rain today. Rivers and creeks are flooded. The flood water went through the Council Chambers, the Princess Theatre, a number of business premises, and a number of residences. Practically all the countryside round Kaitaia was under water early this morning. The Redan Road Bridge over the.Mangawliero Stream leading to the Courthouse and police station is badly 'dam-, aged and is unsafe. Roads have suffered considerable damage through the flood waters. The flood is the heaviest for some years. WHANGAREI, -Tuesday.

Those districts most susceptible to flooding have suffered severely as a result of the heavy rains of -the past 48 hours. At 1 o'clock this morning Whangarei was swept by a heavy downpour. The Whangarei rain gauge for the 24 hours ended 9 o'clock tnis morning registered 2.19 inches and for the previous 24 hours, 1.13 inches. The readings at Kamo for the respective periods were 2.02 in. and 1.02 inches, and at Ruatangata, 2.84 in. and .95 inches. What is reported to be the biggest flood for 60 years is sweeping the country to the north and several bridges have been carried away. No service cars are running between Kaitaia and Otiria. There was bright sunshine today, but this evening a thunderstorm raged in the north and west.

FIERCE GALE AT PAEROA.

MAIN ROAD INUNDATED

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PAEROA, Tuesday.

A fierce easterly gale raged in Paeroa last night and toward morning it had reached cyclonic force. -Trees were blown down afld considerable damage l done to small sheds and partly-erectea buildings. The gale was accompanied by heavy rain and this, morning the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers rose rapidly.' A long stretch of the Paeroa-Waiht Road was inundated/and' all traffic was; Suspended,' Several houses,.in that: locality. ,were surrounded by flood water arid the occupants were forged to vacate their homes." ■ j At the Puke Wharf the river over* flowed its banks? and the'shipping shed; were surrounded. The town was fres from flood, but. the storm-water. dr{ynag£ system Was taxed to its limit.- The rivers have fallen considerably to-day and th© weather hdS' been 'fine. ; • , J ■