IN WINTER’S CLUTCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 13 October 1926, Page 10

IN WINTER’S CLUTCH.

WEATHER, IMPROVING. By Teleproph-—Press Association AUCKLAND, October 12. Reports from Hangatiki regarding floods on tbe railway line indicate that the waters have appreciably receded. The Limited express, which left Wellington for Auckland on Sunday night and was held at To Ivuiti last night, negotiated the Hooded area careiully, and arrived at Auckland at about 11.311 this morning, the journey having thus taken forty hours. Yesterday’s two expresses from Wellington were formed into one combined train at Taumarunui, and arrived at Auckland at one o’e’ock this afternoon. To-night’s express for Wellington left at the usual times, and no further trouble from flooding is anticipated. The weather conditions look more promising. WAIKATO FLOODED. WORKS DAMAGED. By Telegraph—Press Association HAMILTON, October 12. An abnormal amount ot rain has fallen throughout the "Waikato province dur.ng the past week. The Waikato river rose rapidly yesterday, reaching tile highest level recorded for twenty years. The waters are now receding, but at the peak of the flood the river was 12 feet above normal. The new wharf of Hamilton was submerged to a depth of 24 ieet. Tliewhurf sneds and oitices were endangered, but no fears are now entertained. At Arapnni, the Waikato was running •‘elite to cliff,'’ totally submerging tho coffer dam. and excavations. The foaming torrent presented a. beautiful sight shooting out cf the diversion tunnel, the power developed being about 24,000. h.p. The tunnel was constructed to handle 14,000 cusecs, but is successfully carrying 22,000 cusecs. Tho power house - site was completely flooded. The flood reached the 24,000 eusec mark. At 0 a.m. on Sunday the river came over the gabion dam in a wall of water four feet high. The gabions have held fast, and no gear was carried away. The greatest damage done was to the lower auxiliary dam, which was partially completed, and the contractors received a setback. The , company will he forced to remove a deposit of silt accumulated by tho flood. It is impossible for cars to travel between Hamilton and Auckland. Ran- j giriri is isolated. At Mercer, a mile of road is 24 feet under .water. Extensive slips occurred throughout the province. Culverts were washed out, and farmers suffered general damage, the land being under water, but there were no losses of stock. Waipa County suffered severely. Cream collectors and postal delivery were stopped in places. Road communication to various parts of the district was cut off. To-day broke fine but the sky is overcast the outlook is not bright. ,

HAIL AND SNOW IN CAPITAL. .iy Tolecrnph- -Prc«.i Axsocintloq WELLINGTON, October 12. Cold soiiiuerly weather continued tlijs morning. Some hail foil and also a slight fa of snow.' ASHBURTON COUNTY VISITED. By TeloirrnT'lt p.f« A Kr-0.-ifttiun ASHBURTON, October 12. The hack country of mid-Canterbury is haying the unusual experience o! snow in October. Following a dry, miVl winter, conditions became moist about fen days ago. with a culmination at the week-end, when hc'w min fell throughout the county. The fall in the borough for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday was 143 points. Snow fell in the hack country, increasing in intensity last night, three or four inches lying on fho ground at Stavo'oy. under the foothills. Similar oondit : on- obtained elsewhere in the high lands, the falls being deeper farther back. The sudden change is causing some mortality among lambs, especially in the hill stations, where lambing is in progress. Conditions are now brightening. COUNTRY UNDER WATER. PALMERSTON N., October 12. mb' l rivers in tlm di«tr : ct. are now well below the flood 'ey;.], hnh the continued overflow of the Orona River through the broken fton hanks cnn«ed a most extensive inundation 'csterdav afternoon anil evening, with the result that to-day many hundreds of acres arc completely covered to a depth of oovoral feet. 'T’Jjo unfit 1 -ff> Ti'nvfnn ‘‘•nvf'vn*! fov P distance of some two miles, and i.s imnnsfabln for motor raffle, bvo ears he--r*£ hauled ouf hy horses this morning, after attempting the passage.