RUSH ON GARAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23101, 28 July 1938, Page 14

RUSH ON GARAGES

MANY CAES DISABLED WOMAN'S EXCITJNG TRIP WADING IN FLOOD WATERS The storm brought, a rusli of business to city garages yesterday. In addition to making demands for urgent attention to wet spark plugs and distributors and Hat batteries, most of the motorists bad some unenviablo experience to relate. After several unnerving adventures on a trip irom Waiwera, including wading in an evening frock through 2ft. of water across tho main road to test the depth of water, seeing large wheelbarrows float past the car as it slithered down a hill, and having the lights of her car extinguished. Mrs. G. Samson, of the Hot Springs Hotel, arrived at Auckland on Tuesday night to attend a dance in tho city. Sharing Adventures Mrs. Samson said that fortunately she was joined by two other cars some miles from Albany, and tho driver.® wero able to share their adventures. On one occasion tho lights on Mrs. Samson's car failed, and had it not been for the presence of the two others she might havo had to stay on the road, surrounded by swirling water that lapped over thu running-hoards. Instead, she was alilo to proceed with the other cars.

While going downhill, tlio three curs frequently bumped together, and a few ■miles to the north <il' Albany the occupants had to wade through a long sin tch of water, to see if tho vehicles could got through. About 200 yards Irom Albany a 20ft. tree stump, which had been in a paddock Gl't. below tho road, was carried past the trio of cars, adding to the difficulties of the drivers Surprise for Drivers Many drivers, particularly those who had been attending theatres in tho city, we 10 at a loss to account for their inability to start their engines on Tuesday night. Some wero completely ignorant of the severity of tho storm, and the fact that ignition systems had been made ineffective as a result of water which drove through the top and sides of the bonnet. Whirring starters could bo hoard along any line of parked cars, and it was reported yesterday that an unusually large number of flat batteries required charging. Several garages revealed effects of tho flood. A wide selection of cars was to bo found in various states of disrepair, caused by water which had percolated into the interior. In one garago there was a shiny new car, towed from the waterfront road at Kohimarama. the floor of which was covered with a coat of silt. Water had risen inside to the height of the seats, also damaging the upholstery. Two of the cars, through which the torrents passed while they were parked below tbe Public Library in Welleslev Street, had their floors and seats littered -with rubbish of all descriptions.

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL VAST VOLUME OF WATER EXTENT OF STREET DAMAGE Tho rainfall on Tuesday night, when approximately one inch of rain fell in 12 minutes, was the heaviest in Auckland since records wore first kept in 1909. Tho records of the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, show \ that in February, 1924, there Mas a heavy fall lasting for -'JO minutes and in that time tho rainfall recorded uas equal to ljin ior the half-hour.

After a rapid ,survey of tho city, and particularly of the low-lying portions, Mr. Tyler said the damage caused lathe storm to roads and streets w;is comparatively slight, considering the intensity of the rain and wind. It was evident, however, that a certain amount: of inconvenience to residents and damage to private property had occurred, so that the total hill for repairs aiul replacements might he eonsiderahlc. So rnr as the C'ity Council was concerned the present survey indicated that all tho damage could he made good for an expenditure of Irom £'(3oo to £BOO.

Hup inch of rain over tlio Qnoen Street watershed, which lifts an area of 'Mil acres, menus Unit aliout -''.1,000 tons of water has to he disposed of. The runoff lias become steadily more rapid as the area has been more and more built over and the streets have been eonverted from water-hound macadam to modern pavinjj; This latter improvement, however, has redueed to a minimum tlie quantity of debris carried into the sewers.