NORTH AUCKLAND.

Wairarapa Age, 3 February 1936, Page 5

NORTH AUCKLAND.

PHENOMENAL BAIN CAUSES SEVEBE FLOODS. WATER IN MANY HOUSES. WELLINGTON, February 2. Whangarei reports a severe storm accompanied by phenomenal rain which commenced at 2 a.m. ou Saturday, causing severe flooding, the water entering a number of houses. Tele-

graphic, telephonic and. railway commnnications are all interrupted. Floods were experienced in all parts of the district, but owing to interruption of telegraphic and telephonic communications, accurate information is not available. Whangarei, which had escaped the majority of floods that caused damage in other districts, got its full share on this occasion. The rain, which fell steadily all Saturday morning, increased, to torrential dimensions during the afternoon, with the result that all streams were swollen to bank level. The rain increased in volume as the evening approached and •this, added to the high tide, caused the waterways to break theit banks. As a consequence, the main streets became roaring cataracts, while in the lower portions of the business area shops and offices were invaded, much damage being done. The Whangarei Dairy Company’s factory, which is situated on the bank of the Waiorahia Stream, was inundated, the water (being four to five feet deep in the boiler room. Some lorries were removed to safety but two had to be left and were entirely covered by water for some* hours. The Victoria Bridge, over the Hatea River, was in danger of being-carried away, owing to an accumulation of debris against the piles. A ppw bridge in course of construction alongside was also endangered but both were eventually saved. ‘One picture’ theatre was unable to open, the water flowing over the floor. In another, the water rose during the performance and patrons had to wade or be piekabacked to vehicles in the street; The rain, which increased in volume till the early hours of Sunday morning, was followed >by a fierce gale, which wrought havoc in gardens, shruliberies and orchards. A big slip at Parua Bay has cut off com munications down harbour, telegraph and telephone wires being broken. The floor of the power house at Purua Falls whence Whangarei obtains electricity, was twelve feet below’the level of the river but remained dry. The rainfall at Whangarei for the 24 hours ending 9 o’clock this morning was 11.41 inches. For the thirty-three days of this year Whangarei rainfall has totalled 21.76 inches. The week-end downpour was the heaviest registered for twenty years.—(P.A.) ’■