FLOODS IN THE NORTH

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1933, Page 9

FLOODS IN THE NORTH

ROADS UNDER WATER. LOW-LYING AREAS INUNDATED. Whangarei, May 26. Rain has fallen almost continuously in the Whangarei district for the past week. The total for the month to 9 o’clock this morning was 7.68 in. at Whangarei and 9.75 in. at Ruatangata. The Hukerunui Road is impassable owing to floods, and the W'hangarei-Rus-sell service car was unable to proceed this afternoon. The road between Dargaville and Whangarei has been impassable at Taylor’s Flat, Tangiteroria, but the service car was able to negotiate this this afternoon. The main area affected is that covered by the Hikurangi swamp drainage area. For a distance of about ten miles and between one and two miles wide practically all the country is under water from several inches to several feet in depth. All the settlers in the area have been compelled to remove their stock to high levels, but some had stock cut off by water, and unless the rain, which is still falling steadily, ceases, the position may become precarious. The Otaikarangi Road is. under water for a distance of about eight miles. At Puhipuhi the road in one part is under 6ft. of water.' . . ■' The principal centres in the drainage area comprise Otaikarangi, Jordan, Riponui, Waiatu and Puhipuhi, and the Hikurangi Dairy Company has been experiencing considerable difficulty in collecting cream from these parts. In some cases it has been necessary to transport the cream in horse-drawn vehicles to a point where motor-lorries can take over the supply. No loss of stock is reported.