A FURTHER DELUGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22632, 25 July 1935, Page 10

A FURTHER DELUGE

NORTH AUCKLAND FLOODS FAMILIES RESCUED IN BOATS (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, July 24. Heavy rain fell throughout last night at Whangarei, but cleared early this morning, and most of the day was fine with bright sunshine, but rain again set it; shortly after 3 o'clock this afternoon. A heavy thunderstorm passed over the town between 4 and 0 o'clock, accompanied by a deluge of rain. The lightning was particularly vivid at times. To-night light rain is falling, and the veather is still threatening. The rainfall for the 24 hours up to 9 o'clock this morning was 3.41 inches", and since 9 a.m. on Sunday nine inches has fallen. The total for the month is inches. A subsidence occurred on the railway line south of Portland this morning, but was repaired this afternoon. There was also a slip between Tauraroa and Waiotira, which held up traffic on this section until the afternoon.

With blockages at Waiomio, Hukeremii and Milne's Flat, the main highway between Whangarei and Kawakawa is completely blocked. The.road at Hukeremii was covered to a depth of four feet to-day, and it is not expected that this road will be clear until after toft morrow.

The Whakapara-Helena Bay-Russell road was closed to-day on account of several slips, but it is expected they will be cleared to-morrow afternoon. The road is also flooded near the junction with the main highway. The Mangakahia district until to-day had been free from floods, but is now severely flooded. In the Parakao and Pakotai areas the road is covered in two pin :es by four feet of water and service cars were unable to negotiate this route. The Mangakahia River was rising this evening and heavy rain was falling. At Whakapara the water fell this morning, but was rising slightly this evening. The full force of the flood waters descended upon what is known as fie Hikurangi swamp area today. It was free from serious flooding yesterday, but to-day there was a sheet of water over an area 10 miles long and in places almost a mile and a-half wide. Mr F. Elliott, a member of the Whangarei County Council, said it was the largest flood experienced in that district for many years and considerably eclipsed the heavy floods of this and -last year. In past floods there had Wn portions of the area uncovered, but to-day the whole of the area was under water and resembled a huge lake. The Jordan Flat road which runs through the swamp is under water for many chains to a depth of several feet and will not be negotiable for at least a week under the most favourable weather. Last evening it was necessary to use boats to rescue marooned families. TUs task was rendered somewhat difficult at times owing to a strong wind making the water very rough. So far only small losses of stock are reported. Many farms are completely covered with water and it has« been necessary to turn stock on to the roadside.