HEAVY RAINFALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 234, 4 October 1943, Page 4

HEAVY RAINFALL

ROADS BLOCKED IN THE WANGANUI DISTRICT DELAYS TO MAIN TRUNK TRAINS. Rivers and streams in the Wanganui and Rangitikei district have been considerably swollen by the heavy rain recorded on Friday and Saturday and early yesterday morning. Low-lying areas have been inundated, transport rendered difficult, and conditions made unpleasant for all. For the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. yesterday 1.1 inches of rain was recorded in Wanganui. Almost the only members of the community who seemed to enjoy the heavy rain on Saturday were the seagulls, who were to be seen in large numbers on the flooded areas, in the city and suburbs, strutting through the storm-water, and gleaning a meal. Main Trunk Slips. Two slips occurred on the Main Trunk line on Saturday night, causing delays to express scheduled. The Wellington-Auckland express was held at Mangaweka for one and a-half hours, and a further slip delayed the Auckland-Wellington express at Hunterville for three hours. Another relief express was held at Mangaonoho for a similar period. Yesterday afternoon a fairly substantial slip was located just north of Aramoho, and a smaller one in the vicinity of Turakina, on the Welling-ton-New Plymouth line. Good work by the maintenance gang had the line cleared for the railcar to Wellington to get away on schedule last night from Aramoho.

In the Country. 6 Heavy flooding on No. 3 Line was reported yesterday and paddocks carried much surface water. In Burton Avenue the flood waters reached the front gates of all the residences on the south side, the occupants of which had to resort to the use of gumboots to go to and from their homes. The backyards of all these homes were also under water, causing a deal of damage.

Flood waters from Churton Creek invaded paddocks in Surrey Road, Springvale. The most serious reported slip in the Waitotara County was on the Rangitatau Watershed Highway, near the Te Tuhi Junction. Much surface water was reported in various parts of the city. Several slips are reported in the Wanganui County. The No. 3 Line extension is blocked, and so is the Blink Bonny road from Okoia to No. 2 Line, a heavy slip having come down half-way up the hifl. It is expected that this will be cleared to-day. There are some small slips on the road from Wanganui to Mangamahu but the road is passable. From Mangamahu onwards the road is blocked in a number of places. With a decided improvement in the weather yesterday, creeks and rivers along the coast receded rapidly to normal levels.