GALE AND FLOODS

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 30

GALE AND FLOODS

HEAVY RAINFALL IN AUCKLAND, j MAIL COACH SWEPT AWAY. DRIVERS SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCE. A BOY DROWNED. AUCKLND, February 14. The steady rainfall of the last twentyfour hours is causing some- anxiety to people in the localities that were flooded * few weeks ago. The rain continues in a steady downpour, and tWere is every indication of its long duration. The rainfall of Auckland district for the last twenty-four hours was I.7in more than the heaviest rainfall for twenty-four hours during the recent floods. The Kingsland and Devonport cricket grounds are again flooded. If the present conditions continue another twenty-four hours the country settlers v. ill experience a bad time, as the flooded area in the Lower Waikato had not altogether drained when the present rain commenced. It has been blowing a strong gale from between north-east and south-east all day. The Talune, which left Gisborne at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, had not arrived up to midnight, nor had the Wanaka, which left Gisborne at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. A report from Maunoturoto states that unprecedented floods have been experienced there yesterday and to-day, many of the larger bridges being three or four feet under water. A dairy factory boy named George Knight fell into a flooded creek and has not been seen since. There is little doubt but that he has been drowned. At Dargaville (Northern Wairoa) there has been a heavy flood, and train communioation is interrupted. The main street there is wholly submerged, and the lower portions of the stores are flooded. The weather is said to be breaking. The rains at Whangarei have produced & flood which has exceeded in volume and extent that of a month ago. News was telephoned from Poroti to-day that the coach and two horses owned by

Mr S. Rawnsley had been washed away. Further details show that Willian Webb, who was in charge, set out from Porofi at ', 7 o'clock this morning, the coach being laden with cans of cream intended for conveyance to Whangarei. At Frascr's Crcesing on the Wairua Creek there was a very heavy fresh, and in attempting to cross the stream the coach, horses, and driver were swept away by the torrent. The '. driver made a. La^tj- attempt t<? cut the horses free from the vehicle, but being compelled to battle for his own life, had to leave them to their fate. Webb succeeded after a desperate struggle in gaining a foothold on the land. The horses were drowned, being unable to extricate themselves from the harness, and the coach and the dead animals are now completely submerged. There is some danger of the whole lot being carried over tho Wairua Falls if the flood continues. All the low-lying land immediately about Whangarei was under several feet of water this morning. Railway traffic is impeded, and telegraphic communication delayed. The lower part of the town was for a ; time flooded, and much damage has been done. At Waipu the floods are the largest on record A part of the township is lying twelve feet under water. Numbers of cattle j and sheep have been drowned, and the i potato crop is completely ruined. Owing to the bursting of tho booms largo quantities of kauri imber have been washed out to sea. The rain has now abated, but the outlook is still threatening. The mail coach is ac present surrounded by floods. During the- height of the gale last night tho scows Welcome and Alert, which were lying in tho Ngunguru Rher, w-ere torn from their anchorage and driven ashore. Fortunately they struck on a soft part of the shore, and it is thought unlikely that either vessel will be much the worse. February 15. Reports from the country districts show that the rain is abating and the floods are subsiding. Considerable damage has been done to turnip and other crops in gome districts, also to roads and bridges. The s.s. Wanaka had a very etormy passago of 57 hours from Gisborne, arriving at 3 p.m. Leaving Gisborne at 7 a.m. on I Wednesday, she encountered a stroDg north-

east gale, high seas, and much heavy rain. The .steamer put out to sea, and having 100 sheep on board from Tiniaru, every care was taken during the storm by Captain Stevens and the officers of the steamer, the result being that not a sheep was lost. The sheep were six days on board, and were all landed in splendid order. DARGAVILLE, February 15. Tho rainfall for 60 hours totalled 5.20 in. The Dargaville Main road is completely flooded, but no damage has been done. Tho river is still rising in the upper portion, and train communication with Kaihu is cut off, the line for miles being submerged 3ft. The booms ' and the railway siding at Trounson's mill have been carried away. Several railway bridges are reported to be damaged, and through communication is not expected to be restored for a week. A young man named Paul Langton, 20 years of age, was drowned in the Tangowahine. He was washed away on horseback. The body has not been recovered.