STORM AND GALE.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3734, 21 February 1917, Page 2

STORM AND GALE.

LOW-LYING LANDS FLOODED. TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH INTERRUPTED TRAINS HUNG UP In our last issue we mentioned that Mr D. C. Bates forecasted that a cyclone threatened the North Island in the early part of the week. Quite right, Mr Bates. Yesterday afternoon exhibited distinct evidence of I your prophecy, and towards evening increased in violence. As the evening wore on it had increased to a gale accompanied by heavy and continuous rain. At about 11 o'clock the cyclone predicted by Mr Bates presented itself in real earnest, and became at times alarming. Its severity continued through the night and well into the day. At 8 o'clock this morning water at various places in the main street of Paeroa covered the footpaths, and in the vicinity of the Commercial Hotel, where the ground is low, found its. way into the building. In the kitchen the water was fully a foot deep, and considerable difficulty was experienced in providing the mid-day meal. All the low-lying country in the vicinity of the Puke and Station Road was as usual heavily flooded, while between Komata and Puriri the railway was inundated to such an extent that the upward and downward trains were blocked for the 'time being. The local school had to close down for the day on account of the water that had found its way therein from the-high ground at the back. The creek in front of Mr G. Buchanan's on the Waihi Road was 5 in heavy flood, and traffic in that direction was suspended. Further on towards the abattoirs sheets of water were visible everywhere, while there was a fresh in Tarariki's creek, which impeded traffic, and as a result the usual supply of meat from the abattoirs could not be brought into the butcher shops. Telephonic and telegraphic communication is interrupted to various outside stations, while the local service is also in some connections disorganised. Beyond slight damage caused by local rain flood water we have not heard of any damage caused by the gale, beyond the blowing down of a few fences and a shed or two. So far the river has not risen to any extent, although considerable rain must have fallen up country. In front of the railway station there was an exceedingly heavy spread of water, which forbid people reaching the railway station without getting over their boot tops in water. Jn order to enter the Paeroa Hotel it was necessary to extend a line of planking from the road to the front door entrance. The- Taniwha was timed to leave Auckland yesterday at 9 p.m., but up to the time of our going to press she had not reached Paeroa. We understand she reached Kopu at 11 a.m. to-day after a rough passage, and leaves there at mid-day for Paeroa, and maybe expected to arrive about 6 p.m. The water in the main street has much fallen, and the wind has abated, so that there is every appearance of a favourable change.