RAIN IN THE NORTH

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 50

RAIN IN THE NORTH

LOW LANDS FLOODED. AUCKLAND, December 22. The torrential rainfall which was respon* siblo for tho slip on the Main Trunk lino ceased to-day. The total registered for tho past two days was 6.22 inches. Minor damage has been done in the city and suburbs, while in the country low-lying areas have been flooded. Tho flood waters of the Waimuku district nearly proved a death-trap for three men named 0. Miller, A. Humphreys, and J. Fletcher (Auckland) last evening. When returning to the city in a spring-cart after successfully negotiating several flooded portions of the road, they drove into a dip in the road which was covered with water to a depth of 12ft. The horses were drowned, and tho men were swept out of the cart into the water, but after some struggling they succeeded in grasping tho tops of some tea-tree, and in that position they were rescued as a result of their cries for lie!)) by two residents of the district. The Railway Department hopes to complete the • construction of a loop line past tho big slip at the Kaeaka cutting, between Pukekohe and Drury, in time to permit of the through passage of Sunday's Main Trunk express from Auckland to Wellington. Large gangs of men are employed laying a new length of line. Meanwhile all passengers are compelled to transfer from train to train on arrival at cither end of the slip, entailing a half-mile walk. Tho dela}' is causing all trains to arrive here from two to three hours late. The outward trains are all leaving on schedule time except tho two night expresses to Wellington, and theso_ have been replaced till the breach is repaired by a special train leaving here at 2 a.m., and duo at Wellington at 10 p.m. the same day. Passengers are putting up with the discomfort of walking past the slip good naturedlv. and the Railway Department is doing all that is possible for the convenience of travellers.