THE RECENT STORM.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 203, 14 May 1887, Page 2

THE RECENT STORM.

Paeroa, Friday. Thb weather hero during the week past has been very severe indeed. On Sunday a heavy gale set in from the | south east, and continued blowing ; throughout the whole day. Towards : night its violence increased considerably ! and all Monday it blew a perfect hurricane, accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain. This continued till midnight Tuesday, and when daylight broke on Wednesday morning the whole surrounding district presented anything but an inviting appearance, and in all directions the flats were covered with lagoons of water, and the roads leading out from the township were almost impassable for pedestrians, owing to the water lying upon them in the hollow places. Timber fencing was swept away beFore the gale like chaff, and out buildings were knocked about as if the wind was bent upon having a game of " skittles." Several large buildings were greatly shaken, and the Public Hall would have come to grief had it not been for the exertions of Messrs Robson and Brady, wlio succeeded in saving it from destruction by propping it up with strong timbers on the leeward side. It will be a work of years to replace the ornamental and fruit trees that were broken down, Some say that this gale was the most violent that; has ever been experienced since the Pakehas' advent. Notwithstanding the heavy rainfall, the Ohinemuri river did not rise to any great height, but several of its tributaries overflowed their bankt, especially Takeries* creek, which rose to | a great height, sweeping the footbridge on the main road clean away. This is the second or third occasion upon which this primitive crossing has beeu removed in a like manner, and all for the want of a little forethought on the part of those whose duty it is to look after such matters. A few shillings expended in the purchase of wire rope to fasten the log at either end would have sa?od the County authorities as many pounds already expended in the diraction of replacing tho missing timber. On the main Thames-Tauranga road several large trees were blown Jown an<l blocked up the line of traffic for a time, but these were promptly cleared off by county employees and tho road is again free of all obstacles. Between Mackytown anil Karangrthake several largo land slips have occurred, and on this road wheeled traffic of every description will be stopped for some time to come. The suspension bridge over tho Ohinemnri liver at the last mentioned place had a narrow escape Some of the " guys," were fastened to a kauri tree which came to giief on Tuesday morning, nml but for these giving way tho bridge would most certainly have followed suit. Tho greatest mistortune of all in this district, however, was the total collapse of the "trestling" supporting the hill section of the Ivanhoe Company's tramway. This line provided the only means of transit for quartz from the mines located along the county track to tho above mentioned battery and now time, new timber, and that which is most difficult to get — money— will be required to replace it. In conseqnence of tho water in the Waitawheta river rising and bncking up in tho wheel pit, work at Railey's battery has been suspended for some days but it was expected that a fresh start would be made on general dirt from the Monastery mine last night. From Waihi there is a sad state of affairs to chronicle. Early on Tuesday morning when the gale was at its worst the battery, of which 20 head of stampers were then in full operation, suddenly came to a standstill caused by a falling off in the water supply, and upon examining the race at the battery end it was found to be empty. At first it wag supposed that a breach had taken place in the breastwork of the dam which is located about half a mile from the mitt, bat when travelling along in that direction one of the hands was somewhat surprised to find that several chains of tho trestlo work belonging to the race had been knocked down and it was here that the water had made its escape. This battery has been idle or comparatively so for want of water during tho past four months, and it is very much to be regretted that this .mishap should have occurred just at a time when, there is an abundance of that element, available. So far as I -<ftn learn no da.niaga of a «erioaa mUustfio mining affairs has resulted: at W*itekauri, where the batteries arc said to be rnqning full time on payable crushing dirt.