TORRENTIAL RAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 10

TORRENTIAL RAIN

FLOODS IN POVERTY BAY ROAD TRAFFIC DISORGANISED (Peb United Press Association) GISBORNE, March 8. As the result of torrential rain on Friday night and Saturday morning, the rivers on the east coast were flooded, and traffic on the main road between G'isborne and Te Araroa was dislocated. The Tolaga Bay township was completely isolated on all sides. The approach to the bridge near the school was washed away, and two feet of water surrounded some of the houses. Further north the rivers are in flood, and the creeks are impassable. The mail trucks are held up between Tikitiki and Ruatoria owing to slips on the main road. On the south side of Gisborne the water rose rapidly in the Waipaoa River, and though the settlers became anxious no land was greatly inundated. In Gisborne, some properties in the suburbs were temporarily flooded owing to the drainage system being inadequate to carry the water, but no damage was done. The rain ceased about mid-day on Saturday, and the afternoon was dull, but this morning the weather was -fine, a bright sun shining continuously until tfio afternoon, when the sky clouded ovei. All the surface water has drained away in the suburbs and on the flats in the vicinity of the Waipaoa River. The position on the Coast road has shown an improvement so far as flooding is concerned, but traffic ia still dislocated. The main trouble is 25 miles north of Gisborne, where the road is blocked by a slip estimated at 2500 cubic yards of soil and also by minor slips nearer Tolaga Bay. There are also slips between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay. Further north, between Tokomaru Bay and Ruatoria the road is passable. Beyond Ruatoria, the road is blocked by an extensive slip south of Tikitiki. It is expected the slips will be cleared to-mor-row sufficiently to allow cars to get through. Both the North and South Main roads from Gisborne are normal.

During the 24 hours to 9 o'clock on Saturday, nine inches of rain were recorded, most of it falling in a little more than 12 hours.