RIVERS FLOODED AND LARGE AREAS SUBMERGED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12453, 22 May 1926, Page 6

RIVERS FLOODED AND LARGE AREAS SUBMERGED

AUCKLAND WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF

TWENTY TANK WAGONS REQUISITIONED TO SUPPLY CITY

Continuous rain has been falling in the northern districts for some days, and 'arge areas are reported to be inundated. Seven slips have taken place in the Auckland city water supply pipe-line, and the supply kn been cut off. Heavy rain also has fallen in the Thames Valley and in Poverty Bay. A gale was experienced in the Manawatu district.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 21. Auckland is on short water rations to-day owing to interference by the storm with the supply pipe-lines. The 24 inch main from Nihotupu was broken by a washout about half a mile below the dam, 120 foet of pipe being washed into the gully below. A temporary supply of about one million gallons a day was turned into the pipe from a creek. On the other side of the ranges, the Waitakerci supply pipe has also been interrupted, and in the meantime the Western Springs supply is to be drawn upon. The daily consumption is about eight million gallons, and the temporary supplies will give only about a quarter of that. The Mayor has notified the citizens that owing to the phenomenal landslips in the Nihotupu and Waitakerei ranges,, both the city’s gravitation mains have been carried away, and the water supply to the city is almost entirely cut off. It is imperative that the consumption of water shall he cut down at least to one-third. The use of all liydrnulio lifts, baths, lavatories, water for building purposes, and other extraneous consumption must cease until the normal supply is restored. No time is being lost, the Mayor says, in making repairs to both pipes, and a limited supply for essential domestic purposes is being maintained. Suburban bodies using the city water supply are asked to exercise similar restrictions.