EAST COAST FLOODS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9685, 13 June 1917, Page 5

EAST COAST FLOODS

VERY HEAVY RAINFALL LARGE AREAS OF COUNTRY UNDER WATER. Prean Association. NAPIER, J lino i2. Serious floods are thrca toned. Ninety-three points of rain fell during t!io twenty-four, hours ending at 9 a.in. to-rhiy. It lias boon rainin'; heavily since. Breaks in the Meanee river caused by the. last flood have not yet been repaired. Bp till 9 a.in. all the rivers were confined ivithin their hanks. There i.s considerable surfaee water about. The, train traffic be tween the town and blastings is suspended- There are two ieefc of water on tbe line between Farndon and Whakatu. It is still raining heavily, and Iho rlvors ate rising rapidly. The outlook for the low-lying country is had, as the sea- is blocking in the rivers. There is no sign of the weather clearing. It is generally conceded that m the M/vinee and Taradale districts tb-, ■n«tprs are higher than the 1897 Hood level. The country .is one vast lake. There are two feet of water on the main Taradale road. At Marshall's crossing, the bridge which was recently erected was washed away. The approaches had only been replaced-since the flood a month back. No stock losses arc reported. Communication with the country is very difficult. There is only' surface water in Napier. 'fhc •‘washout” at Waitangi, which saved the position when it was made in 1897, is acting as a safety valve. Tho water is not expected to get any higher. TRAINS HELD 1 UP "WORST FLOOD EXPERIENCED.” HASTINGS, June 12It has rained continuously hero since 10 o’clock on Sunday, and is still raining. Six inches have been already recorded. Reports to dale show that, the whole country between Napier and Hastings is again under water. The early train from Napier got through, hut'tho Wellington express found tho permanent way unsafe near Whakatu, and returned to Napier. A substitute for the express was dispatched to Wellington from Hastings at 9-45, hut carried no Napier passengers. Whakatu is badly flooded. Tile residents are having difficulty in removing themselves and their belongings 111 drays to a place of safety. The Ngaiuroro at Farndon has broken its banks, and the surrounding country is under water. Hundreds of carcases of stock have been seen floatin" down the river. The river has also broken its hanks at Clive, and is flooding the village. Residents at Pakowhai declare that jt is tho worst flood experienced. Tho Tilki Tuki river is rising rapidly, hut tho estuary is clear, although a heavy sea is running-

A great amount, of surface water is lying about Hastings. Many residents arc surrounded by a sea of water. One drapery firm reports stock rained at £.500 as being damaged. Heavy slips on' the Havelock-Wai-rnata road are interrupting traffic and telephone communication. The flood reached the Waipatn Pa, on the Karamu road, and is still rising. Sottlor.s m the vicinity of Hastings yesterday removed their stock from the lowlying paddocks. Consequently the* losses hero will not bo heavy. Tho ■water reached the floor of the offices at the Whakatu Meat Company’s works. Two settlers at Omahu report tho loss of 1000 sheep. The water is flowing over the approaches to Omahu bridgeTho structure is in groat danger, as the river is still rising. LATEST REPORTS COUNTRY ROADS IMPASSABLE. SETTLERS RESCUED BY MEANS OF LIFEBOATS. c*res* Association. N APIER, Junc_ 12, 11.20 p.m. The floods in the Napier district exceed in severity those of the year ISO 7. Largo stretches of country are inundated and all the country roads are impassable. In Napier the rainfall for 48 hours was 7.35 inches. . Fifty settlers have been rescued m tlio Harbour Board and Richardson Company’s boats. Big lifeboats full of w-opfe sail over the fences. Stock casualties are light, as a warning was given. Them arc various rumours ns to deaths bv drowning, hot no facts are available vet. It is said that one of tho rescue Wats got into difficulties ami two men are missing. . Maim residents of Napier Sout.li are living in the city hotels owing to the deciT surface water in the suburbs. There is no train or rotor service between Napier and Hastings. ... The Arnhnra has not yet been reported as arriving at fiisborne. She left on Monday night T-uadale is inundated ami the bridges am expected to go. Many of tho country bridges are in a bad way. Latest reports from Imrnhill state Mint tho Xffururoro has fallen slightly and the bridge is intact 1 here is a Imi; slin on the Maraototara settlors road sn<l it will be two o r throe days More it ran be cleared for traffic. Ten and a half inches of ram fell at yiaraetotara in W> hours. The Wollintfton-Napior express arrived at Hasfinss half an hour late. It was unable to proceed to Napier. NORTHERN RIVERS IN FLOOD INI7NDATTON AT PATvR-O A. Press Association. AEC KL AND. June 12. Paeroa reports that owing to heavy rain tlie AVaihoa and Obinemnri rivers ere flooded. All low-lying parts of tho borough and the surrounding districts ■are under water. No serious damage is reported.

PHENOMENAL RAINFALL FLOODS IN POVERTY BAY. SERIOUS DAMAGE TN VARIOUS HARTS OF DISTRICT’. Vies* Association. GISBORNE, June 12. A storm which set in on Sunday night has continued without intcrrniidnn since, find up to 3 p.m. to-day 7.b0 inches of rain bad fallen in Gisborne. while as much as 14.110 inches is recorded at some country stations. All the streams are in, heavy flood. Tho Waipaoa has inundated :i portion of the flats and the water is still rising. Serious damage has been done in various parts of the district, but the most serious is the, carrying away of six bridges supporting the pipe which brings in the borough water supply. Tins means that Gisborne will have no waller for at least ten days, ft will cost several thousand pounds to repair the damage. Settlers have had plenty of warning, find no serious losses of stock are expected. The Arahura, which left Napier on Monday night, has not yet. been reported. ami is probably keening at sea till the weather moderates. The Gisborne Racing Club’s opening day has been postponed till Friday on account of the weather.