CARS ISOLATED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 8

CARS ISOLATED

NEW SCENIC ROAD FOOD SHORTAGE REPORTED " ONLY LOOKING FOR TROUBLE " [by telegraph—OWN' correspondent] OPOTIKJ, Tuesday Many motor-cars are reported to he isolated on the new east coast scenic road between Te Kaha and the unnietalled portion of the road near Cape Runaway. Three cars arrived at Opotiki to-day after three dajs tortuous travelling. There are no workmen on the Cape Runaway section of the road and the motorists were compelled to remove slips themselves. Stranded parties are short of food, bread being about the only thing obtainable. Some parties have abandoned their cars temporarily and are returning home by other means, Late this afternoon the weather had become worse and the rivers are expected to rise rapidly. "People who have attempted to negotiate the road during the last week have been only looking for trouble, said the touring manager oi the Automobile Association (Auckland) last night. "Owing to the wet weather the rivers are high, the clay is; loose and :i number of slips have occurred on the road." Mr. Champtaloup added that advice had been received from both ends of the road that it should not be attempted, but many people ignored the advice. The statement about the shortage of food could he discounted, he thought, as there were a number of farmhouses in the district and a hotel at Te Kaha. ROTORUA SWEPT UNLUCKY HOLIDAY-MAKERS HEAVY ROLLERS ON LAKE [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Tuesday So boisterous was the weather in Rotorua to-day that, even with a large number of visitors still in. the town, the streets were almost deserted for the greater part of the day. Ihe rain commenced shortly before daybreak and increased to a continuous downpour. Backed by a high gale from the north, the driving rain again made conditions at the motor camps almost untenable, and many of the campers hurriedly packed their belongings and either sought the-shelter of hotels and boarding houses or left for home.

Several anglers who hfjd planned excursions on Lake Rotorua had to abandon the idea, for the gale soon made it impossible for any of the lighter craft to venture from the shore with safety. Throughout the day launches at anchor were tossed about like corks by the heavy rollers, which swept across the lake and at times dashed over the wharf. The storm wrought havoc in the Government gardens, which earlier in the week presented a most attractive appearance. The roads in the borough which were damaged by last week's rain and since repaired again suffered severely. New metal has been completely washed off the surface. Late this evening there was Jittle sign of an immediate improvement in the weather, but so far as can be ascertained no ; great damage has been suffered. ROADS IN THE PROVINCE ! MAIN ROUTES NORTH CLEAR The north-east gale caused the flooding of several roads in the North Auckland district, according to reports received yesterday by the touring manager of the Automobile Association (Auckland). No reports have been received, however, of any roads in the south being seriously affected. The gale broke in the north early in the morning, and, although the weather cleared during the afternoon, several roads were affected. There was flooding in the Kaitaia district on the Whangarei-Kawakawa road, and the Dargaville-Kauri Forest road. At Waima the river rose and washed out a ford that had been constructed to replace a bridge destroyed last week. Water also encroached on the Auck-land-Helensville road, and was still rising at nightfall. The main roads to Whangarei and Dargaville were not affected. The Coromandel-Mercury Bay road j was blocked by a slip yesterday after- | noon. Travelling conditions in the south have become very rough, and repair work has been made particularly difficult as a result of the rain. INCESSANT RAIN I FALL IX NORTH TARANAKI [BY TEL KG RATH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday North Taranaki was swept by in- | cessant rain throughout the day. Rain ; began to fall early this morning, and ; eased for only a few minutes until this ! evening, when there was a temporary I lull. The rain was accompanied by a j fairly strong wind. | Many campers who wore disappointed i at the failure of the fine weather after i onlv two (lavs left for home.