RAILWAY INUNDATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 12

RAILWAY INUNDATED.

TRAIN UNABLE TO RUN. DONNELLY'S CROSSING LINE. FLOOD WATERS RISING RAPIDLY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tuesday. The galo last night was the worst experienced in Dargaville for a long time and it was accompanied by heavy rain squalls*. The galo caused numbers of faults* in telephone lines, but the post office line staff have repairs well in hand. The boat from Helcnsville had a rough passage across the harbour. There are no reports of any grave damage about the town as a result of the gale. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 2.43 in. The train left Dargaville as usual for Donnelly's Crossing this morning, but was blocked beyond Mamaranui by flood water, which had inundated the surrounding country and had covered the railway for a distance of about six miles above Mamaranui. At the deepest part the water was about 4ft. over the line. The train returned tf> Dargaville. It was noticed that the waters were coming down the valley rapidly, the road at Maitaha being covered. It is expected that by to-morrow morning the flood waters will have reached the bottleneck at Parore and Babylon, and it is probable that the train will bo unable tlo go through to-morrow. The flood waters carried quantities of logs and other driftwood.

The steamer Orepuke, which crossed the Kaipara Bar yesterday, anchored off Ponto and received a solid buffeting as she lay in the stream. It is reported from Tutamoe that five inches of rain fell there during the 24 hours ended this morning.

Latest reports from the up-river districts state that the waters are rising rapidly at several places and there is every probability of the road being blocked at Taylor's Flat, on the Whanga-rei-Dargaville highway, by this evening. Rain is still falling, but not so heavily, as during the past 24 hours. SMALL SLIP ON LINE. NO DELAY TO TRAFFIC. As a result of heavy rains, a small slip occurred on the North Auckland railway line between Hoteo and Kaipara Flats early yesterday morning. The line was cleared before nine o'clock, no delay being caused to any trains.