FLOODS SUBSIDE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22616, 2 January 1937, Page 10

FLOODS SUBSIDE

MOST ROADS CLEAR CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH IMPROVEMENT OF WEATHER Continued heavy rain all over the Auckland Province on Thursday caused much discomfort to motorists, and especially to the many hundreds who were on camping tours. A number of main routes were blocked by flood waters and soft patches on others made travel difficult or even impossible. However, a marked improvement in the weather took place yesterday, especially in North Auckland, where for the most part only light and intermittent rain fell and flooded areas were reported to be clearing.

The outlook yesterday morning in the Bay of Plenty was distinctly bad, but later in the day conditions became more promising, and last night it was expected that motorists would not meet with further trouble if the improvement was sustained. According to reports received by the Automobile Association (Auckland) practically all main routes were passable late yesterday afternoon, the one known exception being the road between Kaikohe and Itawene. Through traffic on this route is held tip by the destruction of tlje bridge at Waima, which was washed away on Wednesday night. A. temporary low-level bridge is being built to replace it, and will probably not be ready for use until Monday or Tuesday. Meanwhile it will be necessary for traffic through Dargaville and the Waipoua Forest to use the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour at Rawene. Whangarei Roads Better The Whangarei-Kawakawa road and the central route through the Mangakahia Valley to Kaikohe were heavily flooded in places on Thursday, but both were stated to be in better order yesterday afternoon, when a servicecar got through from Russell to Whangarei. By to-day they should be free of flood water. The East Coast road southward from Kaitaia was flooded at Fairburn, Oruru, Oruaiti and Kaeo. A small bridge near the Kaeo dairy factory collapsed, but was repaired fairly promptly. Service and mail cars from the railway at Otiria on Wednesday night were compelled to take a circuitous route westward through Herekino in order to reach Kaitaia. All the principal roads in the district were clear again yesterday. In the Dome Valley, between Auckland and Whangarei, there was 4ft. of water on the road at one stage, but it was reported to have subsided by 10.30 yesterday morning. Southern and Eastern Districts Automobile Association patrols worked long hours directing traffic to various detours, and as far as could be ga.thered all travellers reached their destinations by one route or another, although some motorists were temporarily marooned after the first, heavy rain. The association's advice yesterday to those planning tours in North Auckland was that they could safely set out to-day. In the. Bay of Plenty a number of temporary blockages were reported up to yesterday morning, but conditions were much better in the afternoon and traffic was proceeding more normally. Great credit is given to engineers and roadmen for promptly clearing slips and making other repairs. It was reported to the Automobile Association last evening thatxcommunication with Mercury Bay had been restored after campers and others in that district had been isolated for two days. A message from the Herald correspondent at Tapu. however, stated that both roads, via Coromandel and Coroglen respectively. were still blocked. Some Troublesome Stretches

Much trouble was experienced on the Rotoma Hill, between Whakatane and Rotorua, and on the road to Mount Maunganui, and some motorists gave up the attempt to traverse them. Many cars also got into difficulties on stretches of road under reconstruction, although the gangs did everything possible by laying down metal. A portion of the main south road between Te Awamutu and Otorohanga was the cause of a number of mishaps to cars whose drivers lacked experience in negotiating temporary detours. Many ears were held up yesterday morning on the road from Rotorua to the National Park, at a point near the Turangi hatcheries. Patrols stood by all day, and in the afternoon a gang of men made considerable improvement. RAILWAY INUNDATED ' THE NORTHERN LINE The flooding of low-lying land near the railway line at Hoteo and Wayby between Wellsford and Kaipara Flats resulted in the train service between Auckland and Whangarei being held up on Thursday night and yesterday morning. The flood waters rose rapidly to a height of 6^ft. on Thursday afternoon, covering an area of H miles, and as a result the late train to Whangarei on New Year's Eve could not be despatched. Intending passengers were advised by a wireless broadcast of the fact, and a notice was placed outside the Auckland station. The express also could not be sent through to Whangarei yesterday morning. Advice was received yesterday afternoon that the flood waters were subsiding, and the 4.5 p.m. train to Whangarei, which had been held back for the returning racegoers, was despatched at 6 p.m. The p.m. train from Whangarei was also despatched, and it is expected that the ordinary service wi It be maintained unless there is further heavy rain. A slip at Tahawai caused by the rain delayed the train from Taneatua yesterday for 1} hours until it had been cleared awav.

SEVERE LIGHTNING MAN AW ATI! VISITATION [BY TELEGRAPH —PWN CORK KSPOXDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday Lightning struck an 11,000-volt power lino feeding Ashluirst and the Pohangina Valley and caused a power interruption in that area this afternoon, when a thunderstorm of unusual severity passed over the district. A power pole at Ashhurst was denuded of its outer covering and six breaks occurred in the wires at this point. In addition, transformer fuses in all parts of the district were burned out. entailing a considerable amount of travelling by the workmen who restored tho service. Another source of interference was a motor-car which left the road on the Hangitikci line and crashed into a pole. Five wires were severed by the force of tho impact. Mr. George Gore, who was visiting Mr. W. Green how, on the Btinny-chorpe-Ashhurst Road, was looking out of a window when a lightning discharge occurred with a rioiso like a deafening explosion. The power lines leading into the house were severed and the fuses in the house were blown. Mr. Gore said the visitation was dazzling white and appeared to travel along about 10ft. above the ground. The animals on the farip were very much disturbed.