HEAVY RAIN AND GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20902, 18 June 1931, Page 10

HEAVY RAIN AND GALE.

FLOODING IN THE COUNTRY,

WIND UPROOTS TREES.

THAMES VALLEY SUFFERS

Heavy rain and a strong gale have caused a certain amount of flooding and damage ia country ilistricts, moro especially in the Thames Valley, during Tuesday night and yesterday. Correspondents of the Herald reported last evening as follows: —

Paeroa. —A very severe storm has been raging in Paeroa and district for the past 24 hours. The wind has reached hurricane force, and considerable damage has been done. Several telegraph and telephone wires are down and trees have been uprooted. The river has .risen considerably and portions of the Paeroa-Waihi Road are flooded, but not seriously. Heavy rain is still falling. Thames. —Heavy rain continued to fall until 2.30 p.m. Flooded paddocks on the main road compelled farmers to move stock to higher ground. The stream at Wesleyan Valley flowed over the road for a distance of two chains. Both the Puriii and Kirikiri Creeks were running strongly across the main road. The Kauaeranga River had risen nearly bank-high at 3 p.m., and was expected to overflow into the lower portion of the Parawai area at high tide. A few minor slips have been reported on the (!!oast Road. Waihi.—Overnight and throughout today there has been steady and at times heavy rain. Owing to the altitude of Waihi, there has been no flooding or damage. In t'ae low-lying country toward Paeroa, however, areas are • under water, and the main highway is covered in places to a depth making the road impassable for small cars. Te Aroha. —During last zrigbt, a heavy; south-easterly gale fiprang up,' accompanied by heavy rain, The river and creeks are in a high state of flood, and the lower lands are considerably flooded. No reports have yet been received of any losses of stock.

STORMY CONDITIONS IN CITY.

RAIN SQUALLS DURING NIGHT.

The boisterous and wet weather -which was experienced in Auckland on Tuesday evening culminated in a hard north-east gale which blew in fierce rain squallg during the early hours of yesterday morning. After nunrise the wind moderated and the conditions improved, and fino weather prevailed during the day. . During the storm the barometer fell to 29.50 in. yesterday morning. After remaining practically steady until evening, it began to rise. The rainfall during Tuesday night and yesterday- morning was 1.17 in.

EXPERIENCE OF MOTORISTS.

VARIED WEATHER EN COUNTERED*

Varied weather conditions were experienced by a party of motorists returning from the National Park yesterday. Leaving the Chateau,, driving rain 'was experienced, but by the time Taumarunui was reached was reasonably fine* Good conditions prevailed for some miles,but rain started to fall near" Mapiu, and a steady downpour was passed through until Te Kuiti, where finer weather met. .

This continued through "Otorohanga, but. then the sky became leaden and Nearer Hamilton the rain steadily increased,From Hamilton there was a heavy gala with rain, the wind increasing to gala force at tho Razorback.

The downpour, accompanied by wind, continued until Takanini, but at Manurewa the roads were dry. Light rain was met in Otahuhu, and heavy rain at Westfield, but at Penrose the concrota appeared dry. ,