TRAINS HELD UP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20768, 1 July 1937, Page 11

TRAINS HELD UP

FLOODS IN NORTH AUCKLAND ROADS IMPASSABLE By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, June 30. Trains were held up, roads were blocked to all traffic and farm lands were flooded as a result of heavy rain that fell In all parts of north Auckland on Wednesday night and to-day. Rain was still falling to-night and further heavy flooding is likely. The continued heavy rain washed out a hole Bft wide and 4ft deep on the railway line between Akerama and Towai, north of Whangarei, and prevented the expresses to and from Opua from getting through to-day. The south bound express from Opua was held up at Towai, and arrangements were made for a temporary motor service to Hukerenui. After one load of passengers had been transferred, however, the flood waters rose and the motor vehicle in use broke down. Some of the through passengers for Auckland walked round' the flooded portion of the line and continued their journey by a train leaving Whangarei shortly after 5 o’clock to-night, but the remainder were forced to return to Towai. Highway Flooded The flood waters rose very high in the afternoon and there was 6ft of water over the main highway at Hukerenui. The express from Auckland got as far as Hukerenui on the southern side of the damaged portion of the line late this afternoon, after running on a submerged track for nearly a mile. Most of the passengers for stations beyond Hukerenui spent the. night at Whangarei. No further damage to the permanet way was reported to-night, and although there was flooding on the line at Wayby, between Wellsford and Kaipara, Flats, the express leaving Auckland at 4.5 p.m. got through to Whangarei without much difficulty. As a result of the bad weather there will be no trains from north of Whakapara, and the express to Auckland will start from there. Unless the weather conditions are greatly improved it is doubtful whether the northbound express will proceed further than Whakapara to-morrow afternoon.

Reports received by the Automobile Association (Auckland), stated that most of the main routes north of Whangarei were blocked to traffic by flood waters. The main road from Whangarei was blocked by a slip in the Waipu Gorge, but this was cleared away and the road was open again in the afternoon. The flood waters near Portland had fallen sufficiently in the afternoon to allow motorists through. Further south main highway was clear of water, but indications to-night were that it might be blocked by water tomorrow. May Be Stranded As a result of the continued rain there is a possibility that the acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser may be temporarily stranded in Whangarei. Mr Fraser’s engagements today were fairly light, and there was not a great call for him to brave the rain which fell practically Incessantly. However, his programme embraces visits to Kaikohe and Kawakawa tomorrow and to Dargaville on Friday, but unless the weather clears suddenly and remains fine it is unlikely he will be able to leave Whangarei. Reports tt-day indicated that the road tp the north was blocked, and that floods and slips made the route to Dargaville impassable. It will not be known until to-morrow morning whether the Minister will be able to fulfil the rest of his engagements in the north.