FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12757, 1 April 1910, Page 3

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

[United Pjiess Association.] ] New Plymouth, March 31. The gale is now abating a little, but it raged with great force during the night. Scores ot chimneys were blowi^ down and buildings were unroofed The harbour Board's dredge Thomas Kiug broke from her moorings, and sank close to the wharf. Walroa, March 31. Jf terrific rain and wind storm has •been raging since yesterday. All the rivers are in heavy flood, and the wharves aro submerged, the riverside sheds and- stores being cleared, and the Harbour Board offices flooded. All tho low-^ying lands and roads arc heavily flooded, and several settlers on the town flat are cut off from the town. ••,.," In- 1 tho country several bridges are 20 feet under water, and the settlers are cut off, and land slides and slips have occurred in all directions.. Telegraphic 'communication with tho north is ■"interrupted, and all coaches aro blocked. No bridges are damaged yet,, but stock losses are likely to be heavy. • Wellingtons-March 31. Tho Warrimoo, 'which arrived here 20 hours late from Sydney, experienced the full force of the gale. Captain Clift declares that he has never] known it to blow so hard on the New Zealand coast as on the present occasion; Instead of covering fourteen or fifteen knots an hour the steamer was eased down to seven or eight knots. The worst effect of the gale was en-, countered in C6ok_.Straits. . Later. Wellington's share of the storm was, not so severe as the Northern districts' though the wind freshened up towards tho evening yesterday, and was vigorous enough to-day, me rainfall for the twenty-four hours preceding nine o'clock -to-day' was only 16 points (less; than a sixth of an inch).' This "morning 'the centre or the dyclonic disturbance was in the vicinity of the East Cape working seawards, and it was still necessary to issue warnings for the easi coast as far south as Oamaiu. Tho outlook for to-morrow is uncertain. Messages only accepted at ■ sender s risk," was the- tiduigs given out at 9 o'clock this morning by the Wellington telegraph office in reference to messages for Auckland. The wires are all down. and. communication was cut off shortly before two o'clock this afternoon. Auckland was "picked up" with one wire from Napier, but after half an hour this carrier failed. Definite news about tho damage to the lines north of Auckland is nofc-yet aavilable, but it is probable that the breaks have been numerous. There was one double break, an extensive one, in the* Waikato district. Repairing gangs have been sent .out to a number of points in the Jiorth, but the local office this afternoon was not able to estimate the time that would be required to again bring Auckland within speaking distance of Wellington. ' Tho Secretary of: the General Post Office has received thoofollowirig message from- the Chief Postmaster ■at the Thames :—"Heaviest flood . ever known in Paeroa occurred this (Wednesday) morning. The streets, are submerged; to a depth of three or four feet. The banks and most of the business premises are flooded out. Heavy rain accompanied by a northwest gale- still continues, and the water is still rising. Telegraph and railway communication are interrupted between Paeroa and Waihi, also railway communication between Paeroa and Te Aroha." ' Napier, March 31. Reports form the districts near Napier go to show;that tho. floods ;are subsiding. Meeanee was nob flooded. The | water was for sdirie time''il^ar. the topof the stop bank, but a band of workers averted any danger. The losses of stock so far as is known are insignificant. The weather now shows signs of clearing. Auckland, March 31. A gale which has been raging for three days blew itself out to-day. Telegraphic communication with tho south has been cutoff for two days, b;ib is now partially restored. Only on© liiie however, is working, and this is blocks ed with private business. Nearly four inches of rain fell at Auckland . between 3 p.m. and midnight on Tuesday causing waskaiways.on . the railway 'lines.' Taupo experienced its heaviest: gale for many j'ears. Thegrounds of the Spa Hotel suffered severely. Many trees are blown down. Floods have^ occurred, at Waihi and Paeroa,. and railway communication is interfered with.. ....■'■:■'