EAST COAST FLOODING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 12

EAST COAST FLOODING

HELD UP EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY RAIN [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT J GISBORNE, Tuesday Exceptionally heavy rain, driven before a fierce gale, drenched the coastal district north of Gisborne last night and this morning, causing all the rivers and creeks to rise and practically suspending traffic on the northern end of the east coast main highway beyond Tokomaru Bay. A report from Tikitiki stated that a large slip had fallen six miles on the Ruatoria side of Tikitiki, and that it would probably take two days to clear. At Gisborne the rainfall for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day was 1.20 in. on the gauge at the aerodrome, and 2.24 in. at the signal station.

NORTHERN ROAD BLOCKED PROBABLY CLEAR TO-DAY [by telegram OWN correspondent] TVHANGAREI, Tuesday With about 2jin. of rain for the 24 hours ended at 9 o'clock this morning, flooding was reported to-day in some localities. The main highway between Whangarei and Kawakawa was blocked at Hukerenui and Waiomio, but traffic is expected to" be normal to-morrow morning. THAMES VALLEY INUNDATED SLIP ON THE COAST ROAD - [by telegram—OWN correspondent] THAMES, Tuesday A small bridge over the Waiotahi Creek was destroyed during last night's storm, and all the land in the Thames Valley to Hikutaia is covered with water. A slip on the Coast Road at Kerita prevented the service car from getting through. Passengers walked across the slip and were met by a motor-car from Thames.

EEOSION AT RUSSELL 1? EL ICS UNCOVERED [BY TKLKGRAPH—O\V.\" CORRKSPONDKNT] RUSSELL, Tuesday Bain amounting to o.SOin. fell in Russell during the 2-1 hours ending at 9 o'clock this morning. The rain was accompanied by a south-easterly gale, and the heavy surf which pounded on the beach at Russell caused a considerable amount of erosion, uncovering a number of interesting relics of early days in Russell. These included a medallion commemorating the visit of the United States Navy to New Zealand in 1908, an old lead bullet, and a coin of the reign of William IV. The rain was especially heavy about 4 o'clock this morning, when the lowlying parts of the town were flooded, and several minor slips occurred. The fleet of launches on the slips at Matawhi Bay received a severe buffeting at high tide yesterday, but by this afternoon the sea had subsided and the sky had cleared.