RAIN AND FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22475, 20 July 1936, Page 11

RAIN AND FLOODS

HEAVY WEEK-END FALL BAY OF PLENTY AREAS iWATER INVADES HOUSES STOCK LOSSES REPORTED [bt telegraph —own correspondent] WHAKATANE, Sunday As a result of heavy rain at Whakalane Inst night the river flooded in eeveral places, traffic on tho roads was held up and water, invaded houses, damaging furniture. Loss of stock has been reported. Floods on the Whakatane-Opotiki main highway this morning held up traffic . between Whakatane and Taneatua and matters became worse later in the day. A large area of the Whakatane Heads road was swamped and houses near the road were invaded by water, which damaged carpets and furniture. The water rose further tonight, although the position is not regarded as very serious. The Apanui Flats suffered severely from flooding. The main road to Rotorua and Tauranga is blocked to-night and thero is no thoroughfare to tho Whakatane Bridge, both the approaches of which cannot be passed by motorists. Tho Whakatane railway station road is under water and' the neighbouring white pine bush land is endangered. It is reported that stock has been lost toward Opouriao. Incessant rainfall was experienced in the back country on Friday and yesterday, and also ,eaflv this morning. Tho. weather cleared this morning and to-night the indication is that conditions will, continue fine. All highways will he open to-morrow except, possibly, the road between Whakatane and Opotiki. The Tarawera and Rangitaiki Rivers have flooded in places and the sea has ■>ucroached at Otamarakau. MAIL VAN SWAMPED

EXPERIENCE IN NORTH WATER RECEDES RAPIDLY [bt telegraph—own correspondent] KAITAIA, Sunday The first very heavy rain for about gix months was experienced in the Far North yesterday and the mail van operating from the railhead at Otiria to the Far North was trapped on a flooded section of the road at Mangamuka. Water poured into the vehicle and damaged the mails. The driver alighted and found himself up to his neck in water. However, except for small areas of low-lying land and short eections of road, little serious flooding occurred. Tho water receded as rapidly as it rose. The mail van reached Mangamuka on schedule, just after 6.30 p.m. Heavy rain was falling and visibility was bad. There was flooding across the road near the Mangamuka Bridge for about 30 chains and shortly after entering the water, which did not seem particularly h/gh, the mail van ran into a depression in the road. Water poured into the driving cab and put the , v engine out of commission. When the driver, Mr. E. Stenseness, was able to get out of his seat he found himself up to the neck in water. A heavy leather coat impeded his movement, but he was able to free himself and walk half a mile to telephone,for assistance. Air. H. Templeton, of Umawera, arrived with a motor-truck, with which the van was towed out of the flood. The mail was taken out and found to be saturated. Mr. Stenseness said his greatest anxiety was that the van might have been swept into the Mangamuka . River, which was "running strongly. It was difficult to prevent ' driftwood from piling up against tho vehicle. Although the mail was saturated postal officials were able to sort it, except for one bag, which cannot be handled until the letters have dried. FLOODING IN WAIKATO STREAMS SWOLLEN BY RAIN MANY PADDOCKS INUNDATED [from oub own correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday Heavy rain commenced in the Waikato yesterday afternoon and continued J with increasing intensity most r of the night. For the 24 hours ended at 9 &.m. to-day the fall, as recorded by Dr. H. Douglas, of Hamilton, was 1.57 in., making the total rainfall for July to date 4.47 in. The average rainfall for July iii Hamilton is 4.83 in. A good deal of flooding was in evidence, this morning and the level of the Waikato River rose over a foot. All the streams of the district are swollen and many pad locks are inundated. No damage, however, has been reported. The weather in Hamilton to-day was fine.