HIGHWAYS BLOCKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23591, 27 February 1940, Page 9

HIGHWAYS BLOCKED

MANY CENTRAL ROUTES SERIOUS AWAKINO POSITION NAPIER ROAD ifa GOOD ORDER While serious interference with the flow of traffic still exists on many routes in the central part of the North Island, on account of flooding resulting from the week-end storm, damage is confined principally to the main road from Te Kuiti southward, and to roads in the vicinity of Taumarunui. Reports to this effect were received yesterday by the Automobile Association (Auckland), and it was stated last night that North Auckland and Hawke's Bay both ap-

peared to have escaped the storm. In the King Country, however, reports said that many roads, in addition to being blocked by slips, had been scoured by flood-water, and in some cases washed out to singlo-ear -width. As a result, some routes were completely blocked, and others were recommended for use only with extreme caution and during daylight. This applied particularly to the TaupoNational Park route, where only a partial clearance had been made yesterday, and to the Te Kuiti-Taumarunui highway, where the main route was still blocked, and access was provided by a detour. The worst of the main arterial routes is that between Te Kuiti and New Plymouth. The big slip north of Mahoenui had been cleared by yesterday, but there were 74 slips reported in the next 18 miles along the Awakino Valley. A partial clearance had been effected on the main Taumarunui road. The detour available yesterday, by way of Ongarue and Waimiha, was restricted to light traffic. The Taupo-National Park road was recommended yesterday for use only by essential traffic, and that during daylight hours. The Wanganui-Raetihi road was open, and the Taihape-Ohakune-National Park route was described as very treacherous, and open only during daylight. The Waikaremoana road yesterday was open after having been blocked by floods and slips on Sunday. The NapierTaupo road was reported to he in good order fox* general uso. HIGH WAIKATO LEVEL EFFECTS AT HAMILTON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday Within 48 hours the level of the Waikato River rose by 4ft. 4iu. Riverside gardens at Hamilton have been flooded and water covers the lower path in the Ferry Park to a depth of about a foot for a length of 200 yards. During the week-end gale Hamilton s parks and reserves suffered considerably A large willow tree in the Soldiers' Memorial Park, River Road, which has stood for many years, was uprooted and many other old-established trees lost limbs and branches. I< lower beds also were damaged. Water lies to a considerable depth on low-lving country which drains to the Waikato River. Streams have banked up and in some areas it is stated that a wider area of land is inundatod than for several years. ROTORUA RAINFALL SIX INCHES THIS MONTH [bv telegraph —own correspondent] ROTORUA, Monday Two and three-quarter-inches of rain fell in Rotorua on Saturday and early on Sunday morning. The total rainfall for February is now nearly 6in., which is considerably above the average for the month, although it does not approach the record established in I'ebruary, 1938, when 19in. was recorded. TAUPO-TOKAANU ROAD TEMPORARY REOPENING [HY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] TAUPO, Monday The Taupo-Tokaanu main highway, which was blocked to all traffic yesterday, was opened again about il a.m. to-day, but as the new deviation traverses grass paddocks, which were still under a few inches of water m patches, it was considered advisable to again close the road during the night. It will be reopened to-morrow morning. A better deviation will be built when the flood water x*ecedes further, which will enable a temporary bridge to bo built.