RAIN AFTER GALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 12

RAIN AFTER GALE

WAIRARAPA'S PLIGHT WATER ENTERS HOUSES RESTORING SERVICES EXCELLENT PROGRESS MADE [by TELEcaurn— phess association] MASTERTON. Tucsdrvy Driving rain last night and to-day added to tho damage to houses and business premises caused by tho fierce gale in the Wairarapa district yesterday and considerable flooding occurred. Tlie storm created havoc in the towns and in many outback districts, but so widespread is tho damage that it is impossible at present to give an estimate of the extent. The occupants of many damaged houses throughout the district had <'i most unenviable night, the lack of electric light adding to their discomfort. V The electric-power supply in the towns was restored at 8 a.m. to-day and praiseworthy work was dono by tho Post and Telegraph and Railway Departments in restoring services. Flooding of a more or less serious nature is reported in other localities down tho valley, such as Kokotau and near Martinborough, where all traffic was held up this morning. It will be some time before telegraph, telephone and power services are restored to normal jn some areas. Repair gangs rushed to the district are expediting the work, which the rain is at present hampering. Two telephone circuits'to the north were restored this morning and also tho telegraph lino. The power board hopes to have all essential services restored by the end of the week. Train Service Resumed The full train service was resumed today. A break-down train left Wellington immediately it was known that the line was blocked yesterday and, picking up men all along the line, it got to Feathers ton. Expert bush-cutters were added to the crew, and were employed cutting in two tree trunks which lay across the line. The railway engine was used to push the logs clear, gangs of men with ropes steering them into safe positions. The result was that by nine o'clock last night the railway was clear as far as Carterton for careful running. Roads arc being rapidly cleared of fallen trees and slips and communications are gradually being restored. The Waiohene River, which blocked the main highway with flood water to a depth of oft., had dropped considerably this morning, in spite of the rain, but there is much more water running over tho road between Featherston and Grey town. A" tour through the country between Featherston and Masterton seemed to show that at least half the premises have been damaged, the extent varying from total collapse to the stripping of iron off roofs. , Rimutaka Road Clear At Featherston there was only an inch or two of water on the road at each side of the town this morning. The RiWtaka Road was clear and men were engageel clearing slips and cleaning out water-tables. Some small boulders on the road had to be avoided. On the southern side <Jf the range a strong southerly wind, with heavy rain, wa? encountered. Visibility at Kaitoke was low. / • The Hutt River was flowing swiftly and wsjs considerably above' normal, but still had to rise a foot or two before it covered the road. At Silverstream the creek coming from the hills covered the road to a depth of-6in. Cars were able to negotiate the section with care. Low-lying ground on all sides was under water. Both the Masterton and Carterton show grounds were badly damaged by the gale, buildings being either unroofed or otherwise damaged. The Carterton Show will be held on 'the set dates as usual, October 24 and 25, about 30 unemployed men hkving been put on to repair the damage. SQUALLS IN CITY SHOP SIGNS BLOWN DOWN CURIOUS DUST DEPOSIT Torrential rain in Auckland eai»ly yesterday morning and a high, gusty wind, which was frequently of gale force during the morning and the early afternoon, were succeed toward evening by calmer conditions and a clear sky. The wind, which was from the nojthwest in the morning, did not have a very great eflect in the harbour, although conditions during the squalls were very choppy. Later in the day the wind veered to the south-west. Stormy conditions also prevailed ©n the.Manukau Harbour: . Large seas were breaking on the Manukau Bar, which was unworkable, and the sea on the Wosc Coast was very rough. • A large mirror hanging at the door of Harrison's Candy Store, Karanguhape Road, was blown down by th» wind and a splintered portion of the glass cut a pedestrian's foot. Several wooden shop signs wero blown down in the vicinity of Great North Road, near the junction of Ponsonby Road, where the wind was felt severely, and it was reported that some of the squalls in this district wero so strong that windows were broken in several houses.i A curious feature of the heavy downpour of rain shortly after daylight was noticed by drivers of motor-cars which had been exposed to the rain. When the water dried, the surfaces of many cars were coated with a fine, white dust, which apparently had been car-; ried by the rain. BLOWN INTO RIVER INFANT BOY RESCUED [by telegraph—own correspondent] TE KUITI, Tuesday The two-year-old son of Mr. J. 0. Mullins, Patrick, had a narrow escape from drowning this morning. It is thought that the child rnujit have been on the King Street bridge and that he was blown by the strong wind into the river. A- pedestrian noticed the child and called the father, who immediately rescued him. Medical attention was given the child, and apart from bruises and scratches he is none the worse for his experience. * DELAY TO SHIPPING WELLINGTON WHARVES IDLE [BY TBI/EGRAPE PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Work on the Wellington waterfront was practically at a standstill to-day owing to continuous rain. and boisterous conditions. Seven vessels arrived in port, ono of these being tho Ahnmo from Sydney, while four sailed. Regular passenger services to and from Lyttolton and. Nelson were run to schedule. Tho Maungantii, which was to have sailed for San Francisco, was delayed by the weather and will now not get away until to-morrow.