STORM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9645, 11 March 1893, Page 2

STORM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

DAMAGE DONE BY FLOODS. j HEIMAMA BRIDGE WASHED AWAY. J Captain Edwin's prediction on Monday J last that a heavy southerly gale would blow on Friday night was amply verified . The rain which fell all Friday was accompanied at night by a howling gale, whioh lasted till about 3 am. The rain simply descended in torrents, and as a consequenc considerable damage was done in different parts of tho district. The Taranaki County Council's overseer, Mr J. McDonald, wired to Mr J. B. Lawson this (SaturJay) morning that the livers between hero and Opunuke were heavy in fresh, and that the Heimama bridge had been washed away thus cutting off all communication between hero and Opunako. The loss of this bridge will entail considerable expeneo on the County Council, for the structure was a fairly large one. The Heimama river is almost three miles this side of Opunako. There was also a report current in town this morning that the Oaonui bridge had also been carried away but this lacked confirmation. Mr McDonald did not report any further damage. Tho down train this morning was delayed at Norfolk Road, where the up train should pass, as a culvert has been washod away at Tariki Road, and the up train was stopped. Tho paesengers exchanged trains, and communication was thus kept up. The telegraph wires sonth of Patea were blown down, and no office south of that town could be communicated with this morning and afternoon. The s.s. Mahinapua, which loft the breakwater for south on Friday at about 10 a.m., had to return to the harbor for shelter, as the weather in the straits was too heavy to face The steamer was to leave again for Bouth to day. Tho fresh in the Waitara river has done further damage to the Tikorangi bridge contract works, but it is understood the loss is small. Mr McCullum, the coach proprietor, who drove through from Rahotu this morning, reports that the road between Rahotu and Pungarehu was about two feet under water, and at some places he experienced great difficulty in keeping the track. The water, he added, Ijob dono great damage to the road, the gravel being washed completely away in places. The approaches to the Kaipoaiaia bridge, near Pungare.hu, were in a bad state when he crossed, ana he considered that there was great danger of the bridgo being carried away. One or two smallor bridges this side ot Pungarehu were also in danger from tho flood water. Leedom's flaxmill at Puniho was flooded, and there appeared every probability of tho mill boiDg washed away. There has been considerable damage done to private property all along the level road between Rahotu and Pungarehu A correspondent wires ttat the bridge over tho Mongohotu t-tream has been washed away, leaving a gap in maiu South Road of about 30 feet wide The bridge over tho Moutoti has also been washed away. Ho also reports extensive damage to tho South Road