SEVERE WEATHER.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15959, 7 April 1924, Page 5

SEVERE WEATHER.

THE WAIKATO RISES. FIVE FEET SINCE THURSDAY. HIGHEST FOR THREE YEARS. Owing to the very heavy rain in the back country the Waikato River has risen steadily since the beginning of the bis fail on Thursday. On Saturday morning the river was 2ft. Gin. above the level prior to Thursday’s t<tin. while the steady fall over the past 48 hours has advanced the waters at Hamilton another 2ft. Gin., making the total rise oft. This is estimated to be the highest known here for the past three years. With the fall very heavy in the back country over the week-end the river waters are certain to advance further. The Mercer area is the one that is being most seriously affected by the river waters. A large amount of driftwood, including trees of fair size, is being carried down the river, the waters of which are very disloured.

WEATHER IN HAtHiLTON. *

PAirnCOLARLY HEAVY BAINFALL.

NO DAMAGE REPORTED

The heavy rains -.vhich set in on Friday continued with but little abatement over the week-end. On Saturday afternoon the weather lifted for a' time, but at about midnight another torrential downpour set in, rain falling throughout the entire day yesterday. Last night considerable rain fell, but this morning' a distinct improvement In the conditions became apparent. The rainfall in Hamilton during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.in. to-day (as recorded by Dr. Douglas) was 2.S2in. For the past four days the rainfall was 6.92 in, a particularly heavy fall, and a record for some considerable time in these parts. Despite the amount of rain which fell during the last few days, no damage of any consequence has been reported in Hamilton. The drains appear to have coped Satisfactorily with the water, and no washouts or any other damage entailing expense to the borough has been occasioned. Collingxvood and O’Neill Streets were the only thoroughfares where any flooding was apparent.

THE COUNTY AREAS. The Waikato, Raglan and Waipa Counties also appear to have escaped any damage, although all work in the areas has been suspended. V' SERVICES RESTORED. WAIHI, Saturday. Temporary repairs have been made ht the points at which the recent floods caused wash-outs on the railway line between Waihi and Paeroa. The train service, though slightly delayed owing to slow running over these parts', has been fully restored. Both the water, and gas supplies to the town are again functioning, but full pressure has not yet been reached in either service. In the case of the ( water supply the service will not be /restored for some weeks, as' a number of the pipes connecting with the main dam were washed away by the floods.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TANK. ' TE AROHA, Monday. The Waihou River rose and flooded low-lying land. During a thunderstorm, a tank on Mr Leonard’s house at Hungahunga was struck by lightning and destroyed. THE MAIN TRUNK LINE. LANDSLIP AT KAHAKA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Monday. Ail traffic on the main railway 1 line south of Drury was considerably disorganised on Saturday and yesterday morning by a landslip which occurred on Saturday morning in an embankment between the Karaka and Paerata and about a mile from Karaka. The slip \ r came down on Saturday shortly before mid-day, one side of a new embankment falling in and burying the line With soft clay substance, estimated at iwell over 100 tons. ■Relief workers were busy clearing the slip during Saturday night, and the line was open for traffic yesterday morning, the Main Trunk express passing through after 11 o’clock. t A 24-hours’ journey was experienced by the passengers from Wellington on the Main Trunk express. The first delay was at Taihape, where the train Stopped for over three hours on account of slips south of Ohakune. The Taihape-Taumarunui section of the line wms covered at a very slow pace. The utmost care was taken in rounding the sharp curves, while the vibration set up by the passing train was reduced to a minimum by the slow rate. The train was four hours late in leaving Taumarunui, and waited again at Mercer and Paerata, until the slip near Karaka was cleared. As soon as this was done the train passed slowly through the cutting, land reached Auckliud at 12.30 p.m., a full day and night after leaving Wellington, and almost six hours laie. The passengers had a \ very trying trip, and the womenfolk £ were especially relieved to reach ■ Auckland safely. The work of clearing the debris at the slip at Newmarket outside the Parnell tunnel, has been continued, and U Is hoped ’-hat the double line will be clear for traffic this morning. The spot is being carefully watched in case another fall should ci cur. The suburban were running behind lime on Saturday, ss only one line was available. DAIRY FARMERS ISOLATED. CUT 0?f FROM FACTORY. NO SERIOUS LOSS OF STOCK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Monday. Three hundred dairy farmers in the lower Ivaipara arc completely isolated from the factory at ilelensviile, and have been unable to get their cream there since Thursday last. 2‘beir output is equal to £4BO daily. No serious loss of stock has been reported so far, though several herds arc known to be isolated. IN THE FRANKLIN DISTRICT. FLOODS AND WASII-OUTS. PUKEKOIIE, Monday. Exceptionally heavy rain was experienced in tlie Franklin district on Saturday and Sunday, and low-lying country was inundated. The water is Subsiding rapidly. There was no serious damage, tile county roads suffering to the extent of about £I3OO. A slip on the railway lino between Paenla and Karaka at mid-day on

Saturday disorganised traffic. It is now clear, and trains are running to time-table. Several minor wash-outs on the Pultekohe hill caused slight damage to crops.

A BIG SLIP. ON MAIN TRUNK LINE. BLOCK NEAR KAKAHI. SOME TIME TO CLEAR. A biff slip on the Main Trunk railway, in the vicinity of Kakahi, came down this morning-, which, it is reported, will take some lime to clear. The formation of the country at this point in the line is susceptible to slips in very wet weather, and the heavy rain of recent days has Drought about tills result, which will mean an interruption of the Main Trunk services. The Railway Department Is hurrying break-down gangs- to the sceDe of the slip. Kakahi is ten miles south of Taumarunui. Owing to the abnormal rain of the past few days the authorities were on the lookout for trouble of this nature. It might be two days before the line is sufficiently repaired to permit of the usual train services being resumed.

DAMAGE IN THE NORTH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Monday. Damage by the floods to the main highways and Bridges within 50 miles north of Auckland alone is estimated by a county engineer at £50,000. It nay be, as other observers' shrewdly suggest, that this estimate is pitched a little high, in view of a prospect of State subsidies, but, in any case, it is at least certain that the aggregate of emergency expenditure on extensive repairs in the counties concerned will be a severe tax on local government.

A visit to the middle part of the ravaged area during the week-end revealed widespread havoc to transit utilities and property, and heavy loss in respect of the dairying industry. MR. COATES’ ESTIMATE. AUCKLAND, Saturday. “Considering the high state of the floods, the country has come off very lightly," stated the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, on his return from the Northern districts on Saturday. A continuance of heavy rain over the week-end might put a different complexion on conditions, he added, but the noticeable thing about Thursday’s flood was that the damage came quickly, and was comparatively light in character. Mr. Coates estimated the damage to the Whangarei-.Huarau section of the North Auckland railway at approximately .£6OOO. The floods, however, had retarded a great deal of the construction works on the Dargaville branch line. It had been hoped to run public works trains . over the Waiotira-Kirikopuni section of the line in 12 months, but as a result of the damage to this portion the completion of the section would be delayed at least a month.

IN THE TARANAKI DISTRICT. SLIPS ON THE RAILWAY. STRATFORD, Monday. The recent heavy rains caused great damage to roads in the Stratford district. In the back country, eastwards between Pohokura and • Whangamomona, standing bush fell across' the line and the train was prevented from proceeding beyond Pohokura. The passengers stayed in the train all Saturday night.

Slips on the road are serious, and telephone and telegraph poles are down.

It is doubtful if road communication can be restored within a week.

Railway and telegraph men are busy clearing the slips. HAWEiRA, Monday.

Slips on the railway between Mokoia and Manutahi were cleared, and work is proceeding' to bridge the washout on the line- It is expected to re-open on Wednesday. A PERILOUS JOURNEY. AUCKLAND, Monday. Mr Blanchard, his wife and two other instrumentalists, comprising a touring company, arrived from Kaukapakapa, via Helensville, this morning, id a one-ton Ford car, having completed the perilous journey through the flooded area. After giving a performance at Kaukapakapa they left their luggage and instruments there. Next morning (Thursday) they found the streets like canals, the hall flooded and the flooring sprung from the piles. Their properties were considerably damaged. In Dye’s store the water reached the top of the counter. Bullocks were swimming, wild with fear, in the flooded paddocks. The motor encountered difficulties where bridge? were swept away, but got round with the help of bullock teams, traversing the high ground. Mr Blanchard says nobody realises the sorry plight of the settlors. Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done, and people are in terrible straits in the isolated places. RAINFALL IN AUCKLAND, AUCKLAND, Monday. During the week-end another three Inches were adduct to tiie already heavy month’s rainfall, which for the six days is 7.40 in., or nearly sin. in excess ‘Of the average for April. The Weather Bureau wires:—The indications arc for easterly moderate to strong winds. The weather will probably prove squally with heavy showers, and tile night will probably be very cold. Barometer has a falling tendency.