ROADS BLOCKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22333, 3 February 1936, Page 10

ROADS BLOCKED

WAKKWOETH ISOLATED INNUMERABLE SLIPS TEN INCHES OF RAIN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE, W r arkworth is isolated. In the Dome Valley there aro innumerable slips. South of the township there aro two very largo falls of earth and stone across the main highway, while all alternative routes to tho north and south are blocked by floodwaters and slips. Nearly lOin. of rain fell in the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday. Gangs of men are at work, but even if the weather moderates there is no possibility of the main roads north of Warkworth being opened to traffic for several days. Tho rain which fell on Saturday eased off in the early hours of yesterday morning, but a southerly galo sprang up and a tremendous amount of damage was done in the district. Trees were uprooted, launches were swept down the Mahurangi River, and telegraph and electric power lines were brought down. The gale continued throughout yesterday, and was accompanied by occasional heavy showers. Highest Flood In Memory The rise in the Mahurangi River was the greatest known to residents. When tho tide receded one launch was left high and dry among some bush on the river bank, while another was found a considerable distance away with a large hole in its hull. Several small jetties and landings were washed away. About a mile north of Warkworth, in the Dome Valley, a heavy slip came down on Saturday afternoon and held motorists up. The slip was cleared, but those who proceeded were confronted only a mile or two farther on' with another slip of even larger dimensions. They turned back, but a second and larger slide of earth and stone had occurred at the scene of the first Blip. This, too, was cleared, but by this time darkness had fallen, and the weary motorists returned to Warkworth after crossing flooded roads. Some had the intention of proceeding back to Auckland, and others of going to the north by an alternative route. All Avenues Cut Oil On the road to Auckland, however, flooding and slips had occurred and the road was impassable to motor traffic, while on the road to the north, via Kaipara, the flood waters at Hoteo had risen rapidly during the afternoon and there was no, outlet in that direction. Likewise the road via Leigh and Matakana was impassable. The first indication of trouble motorists to the north had was at Dairy Flat. Here the watercourses were overflowing and the low-lying portions of paddocks were inundated. Streams of water flowed across the road, but no trouble from slips was experienced until after passing Waiwera. About here one motorist was startled by a fall of earth and several large boulderis, which he saw moving and which fell, across the road just behind him. Streams Hanfc High

Throughout the day there bad been heavy rain, and the further north motorists proceeded greater flooding was to be seen, streams and rivers flowing bank high. Many farm houses were surrounded by water, and the tents oi: one Public Works Camp were almost completely submerged. All the slips north of Warkworth seemed to have fallen within a very short period of tine. Within a distance of a mile or two half a dozen or more slips had occurred, some of them right across the road, but not so deep as to hold up traffic.

Accommodation at Warkworth was taxed, but a number of people did not bother to seek rooms, and slept in their cars. W T hen it became obvious that it would be impossible to 1 clear the road, and with the heavy rain continuing and bringing down more slips,, the workmen returned at dark to Warkworth. Throughout the night rain fell unceasingly, .„ The rainfall at Warkworth as officially recorded was 9.8(3in. for the 24 hours from 9 a.m. on Saturday to 9 a.m. yesterday. Telephone Lines Down

Warkworth remained isolated yesterday and the gale, which increased in force during the day, interrupted telephonic communication. In an effort to continue their journeys, motorists held up at Warkworth spent this day trying one route after another, hut all were found to be impassable. Gangs were despatched to clear the various slips in the Dome Valley at an early hour yesterday morning. Reports, however, indicate that . innumerable slips and washouts have occurred at the further end of the valley, and it is unlikely that the road will be cleared for traffic for several day a. Som« time during the night one of the worst landslides so far reported came down south of Warkworth at a point known as Schedewy'st Hill, about six miles north of Wairewa. No attempt was made to clear this fall until lato yesterday afternoon, gangs of men being engaged on another one of some size a few miles further north. Although the water is still across the roads in many places, it subsided considerably yesterday afternoon. Logs and debris are strewn about many 6f the roads Garage Overwhelmed In the Dome Valley a heavy motortruck was trapped by a slide of clay and stone, and was almost completely submerged. As far as is known the driver escaped injury. About four acres of land above the home of Mr. Roy S. Ellis, of Kaipara Flats, slipped from the hill. The huge slide narrowly missed his dwelling, but carried away, about 50yds., the garage near the house. In it® course the slip took an almost right-angle turn vjlion the building collapsed, and the car was completely buried and wrecked. A dog which was in the garage scrambled out unhurt, although covered with mud. The car was subsequently dragged out of the debris. Throughout the district large landslides have occurred 011 the hillsides, one of the most serious being near the scone of the slip on Schedewy's Hill. Here about three acres oil land close to the roadside on the property of Mr. E. Barker slid away, and the effect was just like that of an earthquake. The work of clearing the slips had not beon completed late last night.

WEATHER FORECAST

STORMY, BUT IMPROVING GALES LOSING INTENSITY The Government meteorologist issued to the Hekald last evening the following special forecast for the Auckland Province: —South-westerly gales decreasing gradually. The weather is likely to be stormy and changeable, with further rain, but improving. Seas high,, but gradually moderating.