DWELLINGS ABANDONED

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 9

DWELLINGS ABANDONED

FLOODS IN MIMI X ALLEY NORTH ROAD PASSABLE Floods in the Mimi River at Uruti when the tide was at its height about 1 a.m. yesterday caused the abandonment of several dwelling places on the flat in the township. Mr, Agate, blacksmith, left his cottage when about four feet of water within made the place uninhabitable; Two public works tents were submerged, little being saved apart from bedding. One was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Sole and the other was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Northcott and their family, who were away at Aria at the time of the flood. They had not returned to Uruti last night. No slips were reported last night on the road near Uruti, hut the road was submerged about four feet just north of the township, near Mr. W. Lawrence’s property. The Mt. Messenger Road was said to be negotiable despite mipor slips, and the Awakino Valley was good for traffic, though the heavy rain had dislodged small quantities of earth from the banks. The flood in the Mimi at Uruti yesterday morning was not considered to be exceptionally high, although it was sufficiently alarming to persuade settlers to spend most of the night moving stock to higher grounds. No serious losses in this respect were known last night. The river backed up again yesterday afternoon to within four feet of its level early in the morning. Heavy rain fell at Uruti yesterday. Three lorries and a car crossed Mt. Messenger and arrived opposite Mr. Lawrence’s property at 3 p.m. yesterday. There they were held up by flood for three hours before they could proceed to Uruti and four miles beyond, towards Waitara. At that point'they were again held up by a flow of four feet of water across the road. Eventually they came through to North Taranaki.

STORM SYMPATHY MESSAGES RECEIVED Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour has received the following telegrams:— “Greatly perturbed at the news in the evening paper of extensive damage at New Plymouth and in surrounding districts due to a big downpour of rain and to the flood. Through you I would like to offer sincere sympathy to all who have suffered by this visitation. S. G. SMITH.” “Sorry to learn of unprecedented flood. Sufferers have sympathy of those more fortunate but it is satisfactory that no loss of life is reported. J. McLEOD.