GALE AND RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25030, 21 October 1944, Page 6

GALE AND RAIN

DAMAGE IN GARDENS SOME FLOODING CAUSED Surprisingly little damage -was caused by a strong northerly gale which passed over Auckland late on Thursday night and yesterday morning. The storm was accompanied by almost continuous heavy rain, 1.69 in falling in the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday, and flooding resulted in a number of districts. Most of the rain fell yesterday morning, the fall in the city recorded on the Herald gauge reaching almost 2in by midday. In spite of heavy seas on the harbour, there were no reports of damage to small boats at the different anchorages. Ferry services had rough trips and experienced some little difficulty in berthing on the city side because of the steep seas and high winds. Along the waterfront spray was flying across the road at high tide, causing some damage in waterfront gardens. Low-lying areas in the city and suburbs suffered more from the heavy rain, there J>oiiijz reports of flooding from Western Springs, Chamberlain Park and Victoria Park. Greens at the Auckland and St. Heliers Bay Howling Clubs were under water yesterday morning and other clubs' lawns were heavily waterlogged. .Most suburban gardens suffered from the combined wind and heavy rain, standing plants being broken down and widespread damage caused to newly-planted seed beds and young plants. Normal services were reported hy the Railway Department, and there were no main roads closed, according to the Automobile Association. Flooding in low-lying country areas was fairly general in the areas touched by the storm. Both the rain and the wind had fallen away before midday "and conditions during the afternoon and last night were slightly less boisterous, although light ram fell intermittently. Rainfall for the 24 hours ended at midnight was 2.69 in. FLOODING IN NORTH

FARM LANDS AND ROADS

NO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES (0.c.) WHANGAREI, Friday

Heavy rainfall, up to 3in in some areas, during last night caused widespread but not serious flooding in many parts of Northland. In the Kaitaia area there was over 2in of rain for the 24 hours up to this morning, while in the Bay of Islands the fall reached nearly 3in, as it did in some part of ,the Whangarei district, although in Whangarei itself the fall was under 2in. Large areas of low-lying farm lands have been covered by water, but the only main routes closed for traffic so far reported are the main east coast route from Mangonui to Kneo and the Mangakahia route from Kaikohe to Whangarei. On both these routes service cars could not proceed. Cream collection on many of the by-roads in Northland was affected, chiefly to the Kaitaia district, although with the water rapidly falling lorries were able to proceed later in the day. The main railway lines have not been affected by the flood waters, but trains on the Dargaville-Kaihu railway have been stopped on account of flooding in the northern section. The rain was accompanied by a high wind, which last night reached gale force at times, causing damage to fruit trees. Today has been generally fine, with occasional showers, and the flood waters are rapidly receding, although rivers in the area are still running at a high level. As temperatures have been mild pastures will benefit considerably from the fall. WAIKATO BENEFITS PASTURE GROWTH STIMULATED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Friday Heavy rain fell in Hamilton throughout today and caused a postponement of the primary schools' athletic meeting. The rain was welcomed by farmers, as it will greatly stimulate the growth of pastures, which had been retarded in recent weeks by cold, strong winds. Feed had been in short supply and farmers had had to delay shutting up paddocks for ensilage beyond the usual time on this account. If a spell of fine weather follows the present rain the feed position for the summer' months should be assured. NEW RATION BOOKS LARGE NUMBER ISSUED NEED TO RE-REGISTER Since the distribution of the new fourth series ration books began on Monday, approximately 62,000 have been issued at the chief post office alone. The number of applications yesterday was about 12,000. Suburban offices will not be open for the issue of ration books this morning, but applications will be handled at the chief post office between 9 a.m. and midday. No issues will be made on Monday. During the first week in November, all consumers must re-register with their retailers for sugar and butter, as previous registrations are automatically cancelled with the expiry of the food coupons in the old book. The procedure is the same as last year. A consumer may register with any licensed retailer and with different retailers for butter, sugar and priority eggs. In districts where the priority egg rationing scheme is in operation, consumers may register for such eggs at any time they desire, although early registration will avoid delay in allocations when supplies become shorter. The system of registration is the same as for sugar and butter. Like the mysterious B and C coupons in the current book, which laave never been brought into use, the new series contains a set of 52 P coupons, the purpose of which has not been disclosed.

HONEY CONTROL WAR PRISONERS' SUPPLIES (8.R.) WELLINGTON, Friday A suggestion that the proportion of their output which beekeepers were obliged to offer to the Internal' Marketing Division should be reduced from 70 to 50 per cent to ensure the cooperation of producers was made by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition—Central Otago) during consideration of Estimates in the House of Representatives today. The Minister of Marketing, Mr Roberts, said the Government could not break faith with the prisoners of war. About 8000 parcels containing honey were sent away regularly, and, while an effort would be made to reduce the amount taken bv the department, that depended on Var conditions. The cost of administration of honey control was less than a farthing a pound. TAXPAYERS' LAXITY NO RETURNS OF INCOME (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday For the current year, 35,000 default assessments had to be sent out by the Land and Income Tax Department to taxpayers who failed to furnish returns of income, according to Mr W. R. Birks, in the Magistrate's Court, when he prosecuted a number of persons against.whom informations had been laid by the department. Maiiy taxpayers. Mr Birks said, failed to make returns and waited for default assessments to be sent to them, which they then corrected and returned. The department had, therefore, made it a practice to prosecute taxpayers who failed to fulfil their obligations, and about 300 would be prosecuted this year, they being people who had consistently defaulted Six persons were fined by Mr A. M. Gotilding, S.M., the amounts ranging from £2 to £lo_ for each information for failure to furnish returns*