WAIOEKA HOLD-UP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 7

WAIOEKA HOLD-UP

CROSSINGS WASHED OUT

10 CARS OUT ALL NIGHT

SERVICE CARS GET

THROUGH

A serious hold-up to motor traffic occurred in the Waioeka Valley yesterday as a result of crossings being washed out after heavy rain. Many cars were held up in the. valley, and as many as 33 were counted at one stage. Most of the motorists turned back, and used the Motu .Hills route, but some stayed the night on the road, 10 ibeing reported on the Opotiki side of the trouble. 'Service cars were able to. make the crossings without serious difficulty, and some of the heavier of .the private -cars got through during • the afternoon, ffiut a number found one bump on the Gisborne side really troublesome. A tyre was ripped off one car, the bumper of which w r as also budded.

Bv yesterday afternoon the streams were rapidly subsiding, but the A.A. patrol, Mr. A. A. Franklin, did not advise motorists to take the Waioeka Valley to-day. The main trouble was at Ghileott’s c.’ossing, where there was 2ft. of water, and the Opotiki agent reported to-day that 10 cars spent the night on the Opotiki side. Although li.-e only actual count reported of the cars held up by the washout yesterday gave the total as 33. motorists who came on to Gisborne last night state that at some periods the numbers 'must have been greater. The ears were lined along the road for a great distance, as .if waiting to start.oil in a procession. Most were on the Opotiki side, only a few being at the Gisborne end.

The Herald’s Matawai correspondent, reports that heavy rain commenced at daybreak yesterday, and continued intermittently until the afternoon, when lighter showers fell. The Matawai Creek was higher at noon than residents have known it in the past 15 years. Traffic was held up at two points, one at the crossing beside Mr. G. Stairs’ homestead, and the other between Messrs. Trafford and Chilcott’s. Rome cars returned and took the Motu Hills route.

RAKAUROA DELUGED

44 INCHES REGISTERED

NORTH-WESTERLY DOWN-

POUR

\Special to the Herald.) RAKAUROA, this day. One of the heaviest north-westerly downpours experienced for some years deluged the back country between 'Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty yesterday morning, while there were frequent showers in the afternoon, leading to a resumption of heavy rain in the evening. This morning the sky was still overcast, and the prospect was decidedly unsettled.

At Rakauroa a total of 4.78 in. of rain was registered from the turn of the year to 9 a. in. to-day, all but 20 points of this total being gauged since 9 a.m. yesterday. As a result of the almost continuous rain, there have been marked rises in the levels of the mountain streams.

On Tuesday there was a strong northwest wind at Rakauroa, the overhead conditions being unsettled, and light showers setting in during the late afternoon. In the early hours of yesterday morning the wind dropped suddenly, and a heavy rainstorm set in. This continued with slight intermissions until 10 a.m., and within a period of six hours a total of 2.85 in. of rain was registered on the official gauge. The fall was experienced all over the hill country, and for a storm so general in its effects the downpour was remarkable. This morning a thunderstorm was experienced, and after this had passed the weather remained unsettled, with an overcast and threatening sky.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

(Per Press Association.) OTAKI, this day. A thunderstorm, the worst experienced for many years, occurred last night, the rainfall being exceptionally heavy, hut having a beneficial effect on the pastures.'