OUTLET BLOCKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 14

OUTLET BLOCKED

LAKE AREA DOUBLED SLIP DAMS A CREEK WATER AT HIGH LEVEL FLOODING OF FARM LAND [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GISI3OKNE, Friday The outlet to the liepongucre Lake, 11 miles from Gisborne, has been blocked by a huge slip. The water has been dammed back for a distance of four miles and is at the highest level known to settlers. The slip came down a few days ago in tho Tangihangi Creek and is from three to four acres in extent. As a result of heavy rain the level of the lako rose quickly, completely filling the lake and flooding about 150 acres of farm land. There is little danger of further flooding of adjacent lands, for the remainder of the country rises steeply from the edge of tho lake. Ordinarily the lake is of about 100 acres in extent and its area now has been more than doubled in its immediate vicijiity, without taking into account the water which has been dammed back in the creek, where the water is now at I depth of :30ft. There is only a remote danger of the slip! breaking away, according to settlers in the vicinity, for it is of such proportions that it should hold. If it did break away, however, the consequences would be serious and the rush of water would cause havoc in tho country lower down.

COLD IN TARANAKI THE GRIP OF WINTER EGMONT THICKLY COVERED GOOD SPORT ANTICIPATED [by TKLEGKAPH —PllKSfl association] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday Bitter winter conditions grip Taranaki, with snow on the higher levels and very heavy falls on Mount Egrnont. At the mountain house the falls for August have been the heaviest for a number of years. Cars using the track to Dawson Falls hostel encountered difficulty yesterday, and the path had to bo cleared to-day in anticipation of a rush of visitors at the week-end, when conditions for alpine sport should be excellent. In addition to the expected influx of people from the surrounding district, a party of over 60 has reserved the camp-house accommodation. The snow is reported to be 3ft. deep at North Egmont, while a report from the Stratford House states that over 2ft. has fallen. Snow began to fall yesterday and continued last night. A snow-plough was used to clear the North Egmont track, but almost as soon as it was cleared further falls nullified the effect. Inconvenience was caused to residents of North JOgmont hostel as snow piled up both at the front and rear of the building in drifts that re-formed as soon as they were cleared. Some of them were 4ft. deep. A few snowflakes fell in New Plymouth yesterday afternoon, and the ranges had a liberal coating of snow this morning.

HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS RESULTS NOT SERIOUS ABNORMAL RAINFALL SEVERE STORM AT TE POHUE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS, Friday The results of yesterday's flooding in Hawke's Bay are not serious. There is still a great deal of surface water throughout the province,! but unless further heavy rain falls the situation is not dangerous. There were light falls to-day, but no further reports of floods. The total rainfall recorded in Hastings for 1938 so far is 48.48 in., which is more than double the total recorded for tho whole of 1037. For the first time for many years the road between Hastings and Havelock North was under water to-day. Late to-night the road was still covered in places, but vehicles were able to get through. Districts between tho two towns have been extensively flooded. At Te Pohue, 28 miles north of Napier, on the Taupo road, tho worst storm for 38 years was experienced last night, and in places tho snow lay 4ft. deep. The main roads are all open to-night, but are generally in a bad state. SUNSHINE AT ROT^RUA MAIN ROAD AGAIN CLEAR [by telegraph —own correspondent] KOTORUA, Friday After the fall of snow yesterday at Rotortia tho weather was fine to-day with continuous sunshine. Tho main road was quite clear of snow this morning and all evidence of yesterday's fall disappeared early in the day, even on the higher levels. The barometer is rising and conditions appear to ho settled for the week-end.

VIVID ELECTRICAL STORM • RAIN IN OPOTIKI DISTRICT [BY TELEGRAPH —own correspondent] OPOTIKI. Friday Exceptionally cold weather was experienced yesterday mul to-day in the Opotiki district. Heavy rain fell throughout yesterday and ft vivid electrical storm was seen in the Bay of Plenty in the direction of White island. Further snow fell on the ranges.

SECOND ASHBURTON PALL BOROUGH LIGHTLY BLANKETED [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] ASTIBURTON, Friday The Ashburton Borough lias had the rare occurrence of two appreciable falls of snow in one winter, about an inch falling between 9 and 11 o'clock last evening. Mount Somers and Mnyfield each report three inches. Conditions are uncertain to-day.