HEAVIEST DOWNPOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 9

HEAVIEST DOWNPOUR

STREAMS’ 30-FEET RISE COUNTRY ROADS CLOSED All the indications were that the heaviest downfall occurred in the country between Lake Mangamahoe and the mountain. A small stream near the Meeting of the Waters rose 30 feet during the night, and that was not an uncommon flood by any means. Many bridges were washed away or structural- ' ly weakened. The bridge on Hill Road, off Albert Road, was closed to traffic owing to a washout and farther up, near German Hill, the road was said to, be unsafe for traffic. All vehicles desiring to reach Albert Road district would, have to travel via Kent Road and back down Maude Road. It was stated that traffic could not go through to Inglewood that ■way, the only route being from New Plymouth via Egmoni Road to Egmont Village. - ■ ' - • There was a washout between the Chain Bridge and Mangamahoe early in the morning, and later: another occurred on the main road opposite Lake Mangamahoe. The road lyas closed. The Waiwakaiho chain bridge on the New Plymouth side ?pf Egmont -Village; was under water yesterday, but a resident of the district, considered it was safe for traffic. Four or five settlers’ in the vicinity were washed away. , , - ■ ■ Motorists appreciated thej action r of Mr. Heal early yesterday morning in warning traffic at' the Meeting- of the Waters that it was not possible to through to Inglewood way. . , In the Opunake district' three small bridges in the Wirenui Road locality were washed away. The Waiaua River became a raging torrent and brought down large quantities of driftwood. This blocked the dam and it was impossible to use the Opunake Power Board’s tur- * bine. This was shut off ; and the Diesel engine used- to generate power. .The power board staff had the driftwood cleared from the dam by midday. 'No damage was suffered at the Tariki hydro electric works, but much damage wa» done to the new station at Waitara, , Travellers northwards from New Plymouth have to deviate at the airport owing to the washout at the approach to the Waiongona . bridge on the ,mai»north road three miles before Waitara !« reached. Traffic has to proceed along Te Arei Road te Sentry Hill, but then has to turn south along Mountain. Road and through Lepper ton township, .th«. Te. Arei Road bridge, over, the Waiongopa t also being unsafe. -From Lepper- 1 ton motorists have to take ffie RichmoiMS. 'PAad Knnlr ia tha iMAin