RUSH OF WATER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 46, 26 February 1935, Page 5

RUSH OF WATER

VILLAGE FLOODED SETTLEMENT IN NORTH CHILDREN’S ESCAPE SCHOOL VACATED IN TIME ( Par breaa Association ] WHAN GAR El, Feb. 25. News just to hand shows that Wairna, a small village about 15 miles from Kaikohe, had a marvellous escape from being completely wiped out on Friday afternoon. Torrential rain caused water to bank up in the hills at the back of lhe settlement, and without warning the flood burst through, sweeping down on the houses below. In about 20 minutes the set tlemcnt was the centre of a raging torrent, with logs and debris whirling by. Mrs. Johnston, the schoolmistress, was watching the rising of a small creek which runs iu front of the schoolhouse, when another teacher, go ing to the back door, saw water from another creek roaring over the play ground. The children were got out of the building just, in time, ami hurried to higher ground, whence they watched the water wash through the school room. Flood walers and silt, have ruined stock in shops, and furniture in residences, and big logs are piled in all di rections over an area, three-quarters of a mile square. With the waters receding rapidly during the week-end. the flood conditions in the north have much im proved, and nil the main routes worn open for traffic late yesterday afternoon. Rain is falling again to night. A THUNDERBOLT ’ ALARM AT AUCKLAND.

I Per Freae Aaaociation ? AUCKLAND, Feb. M. Phenomenal weather conditions ol> tained in Auckland to-day. There wan a severe electrical disturbance early in the afternoon, a thunderbolt causing a terrific detonation. A young woman who resided at Grafton, and who was hanging clothes on a line, had an alarming experience. Her arms were numbed for several minutes by n charge of electricity, which was evidently caused by the thunderbolt. Residents of the district hastened to leave their homes. In one house a woman had placed a quantity of coal in a furnace operating a hot. water system immediately before the explosion. She thought for a time that a detona tor had found its way into the fuel. Tn Symonds Street a man who had served in the Great War, was overcome nt the sound of the explosion. Up quickly recovered. Some motor-cars which were travel ling along Symonds Street past Grafton Gully, halted when tie detonation was heard, ami workmen in premises everlooking the cully wore attracted hy a brilliant flash. Lnter hailstones and heavy rain worn experienced.