NORTHERN ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22955, 5 February 1938, Page 16

NORTHERN ROADS

FEW DELAYS CAUSED ISOLATED FLOODS OCCUR THE PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY Few interruptions to traffic on northern highways as a result of the storm were indicated last night in reports received by the Automobile Association (Auckland), from its patrols in the various districts. Their reports showed that the storm was widespread, though in the Far North there was only light, misty rain, with heavier falls in the hills.

The Kawakawa-Whangarei highway was submerged near Hukerenui, but other main routes were reported to be open. In the lower north there was no cause for serious delay, but one or two slips were reported in the Dome Vallov, and in other areas where reconstruction is in progress, lloads in the vicinity of Kaipara Flats were submerged, and reported to be impassable. Patrols reported that the conditions likely to be encountered to-day were almost entirely dependent on the amount of rain that fell over-night.

RAIN CAUSES FIRES ELECTRIC SHORT-CIRCUITS THREE MINOR OUTBREAKS STREET SIGNS AND TRAMCAR Rain was primarily responsible for three minor fires yesterday. In each case the outbreak was the result of short-circuits in electrical systems which became wet. Little damage was caused. *

The sight of flames coming from an ovorhead advertisement sign outside a Queen Street shop at lunch-time attracted a large crowd. Apparently the driving rain had short-circuited the electric wires and bad set fire to the paint. Assistants in the store cut off the main electric switch, and eventually employees from an electricity company arrived and took down the sign. Apparently from the same cause an electric sign 011 the inward railway goods shed in Beach Road took fire last evening. It was dealt with by an engine from the central station, which passed through Queen Street at about 6.30.

The third lire occurred just before nine o'clock beneath a tramcar at the Westmere terminus. A few floorboards were charred before the arrival of brigades from the central and western districts stations. There was no interruption in the tram service. YACHT FOUND ADRIFT SALVAGED BY TWO YOUTHS An 18ft. yacht, which had apparently broken adrift from its moorings in Heme Bay or Westmere, was found drifting toward the beach at Point Chevalier late last night. Two youths rowed out and towed the boat to moorings for the night. The name could not be ascertained, but the colours were thought to be blue and white. All the sailing equipment seemed to bo intact.

TIDE BANKED UP EROSION AT MANGERE The tide banked up at the southern end of the Mangere bridge at about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and parts of the embankment were fairly extensively eroded. The roadway was awash, and at about eight o'clock last night it was reported that motor traffic had to pass through about six inches of water. Tliera did not appear to "be any likelihood oE tho trouble developing, and later in tho evening cars were readily passing over the road.

SCHEDULES MAINTAINED TRAINS AND AEROPLANES Apart from a delay of nearly two hours to tho Tauranga-Frankton express as a result -of a power failure at Paeroa, trains throughout the pro-

vince maintained their timetables with very little variation yesterday, in spite of the storm. The limited express for Wellington left Auckland on time, and late last night was reported to be maintaining her schedule, while incoming trains arrived without delay.

Monoplanes of Uniou Airways maintained their normal timetable between Auckland and Wellington yesterday. Visibility was restricted at Mangere during tho afternoon, but. tho machines flew as regularly as though the weather had been normal.