RAINSTORM.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7719, 13 May 1916, Page 3

RAINSTORM.

HEAVY FLOOD IN THE RIVER. LITTLE DAMAGE DONE. The best rain experienced in the province since the heavy downpour of May, 1914, has been falling since Thursday, and at time of writing show's little sign of ceasing. The rain in the immediate district of Waipawa has not been heavy, but it has been persistently steady. In the back country the fall has been much heavier, and this, together with the fact that the warm rain brought the snow down from the ranges, has been responsible for a very heavy fresh in the river. At the traffic bridge this morning the water was running bank and bank, whilst from the railway bridge very little of the river-bed could be seen. It is stated that there is more water in the river at present than at any time since the memorable flood of Easter 1897. Bo far as can be ascertained little or no damage has been done. Mr Verran, who has just commenced his contract for the erection of the County Council’s bridge at Fletcher’s Crossing, lost some of the props, but the loss is not serious. The rainfall registered by Mr W. H. Rathbone’s gauge up to 9 o’clock this morning was 176 points. This afternoon the flood in the river appeared to be falling. AT WAIPUKURAU. Very heavy rain has fallen in this district during the past two days, with much benefit to the country generally. It is worthy of note that several streams on farms around here that have practically been dry since 1914 now have a good supply of water running. AT NAPIER. ANXIETY AT PAPAKURA. (Own Correspondent). NAPIER, This day. As the result of the continuous downpour of rain there is an immense body of storm water lying about the flats, especially in the Papakura district, always a danger spot in flood time. Up to the present no damage has been reported. Rain is still falling. BRIDGES WASHED AWAY ON EAST COAST. GISBORNE, Last night. Floods have done considerable damage to the roads and bridges along- the East Coast. Two spans of the large bridge at Tologa Bay and several smaller bridges have been washed away, interrupting the mail services.