RIVER BURSTS BANKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17353, 19 May 1924, Page 8

RIVER BURSTS BANKS.

DARGAVILLE UNDER WATER. HEAVY GALE AND RAIN IN TORRENTS. P*» PftBSS ASSOCIATION. DARGAVILLE, May 19. The town and district have again been visited by heavy floods and gales. They were cut off from the outside world by telegraph and telephone communication from Friday night until Sunday morning. It rained anti blew all Friday night, and on Saturday morning the whole countryside was under water to a depth higher than ever remembered by the oldest resident. Much damage was done to fences, telegraph poles, etc. Fortunately there was no serious loss of stock. A large portion of the business quarter had been under water three times in thirty-six hours, owing to flood water, and the wind backing up the tide. Much damage was done to stocks. The water supply was cut off all day Sunday through a break in the pipe line. On -Sunday afternoon the Kaihu River, in record flood, broke its banks and flowed over into the town again, flooding some of the business premises. The weather took a turn for the better on Sunday afternoon and at night the tide was not nearly so high, much to the relief of business people, who had been expecting the worst tide of all had the wind and rain kept on. The flood in the Kaihu Valley was the worst ever experienced, and no trains, have run the full distance of the section since Friday. Reports are now coming in that much damage has been done to farm lands through the breaking of the banks along the river front. Quite a number of bridges are in a precarious condition, but it will not be known until the water subsides if they are safe Tor traffic. The road to Whangarei is many feet under water in many places, and it is not expected that through traffic will be resumed for several days. The weather is now beautifully fine, and there is no more danger unless from high tides, which now are due to come over the river bank.