TORRENTIAL RAIN.

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20475, 16 April 1938, Page 8

TORRENTIAL RAIN.

SLIPS AND WASHOUTS DELUGE IN TARANAKI AUCKLAND TRAIN HELD UP vßy Telegraph.—Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday Slips on almost every road and on the railway line, bridges washed away and washouts were caused by the most serious floods for years in East Taranaki. They followed prolonged torrential rain In the area between Whangamomona and Stratford yesterday. Communication by road is completely disorganised, and with the whole district affected it appears likely to be some time before it is fully restored. Worst In Ten Years It Is easily the worst flood for 10 years. The rain began to fall Wednesday and became heavier on Thursday and through the night it came down in sheets with scarcely a break until it eased yesterday afternoon. In the meanwhile rivers normally little more than creeks had been swollen by the rains pouring off the hills, the soil of which is not very porous, and steep hillsides began to slide. Train Delayed Bringing 370 passengers for Taranaki and Wanganui from Auckland and Main Trunk stations, the train that left Auckland at 10 o’clock on Thursday nierht arrived at 2.15 a.m. to-day instead of 9.30 a.m. yesterday. Slips at botii ends of the Kiore Tunnel on the Stratford Main Trunk section caused the train to be held at Whangamomona yesterday morning, pending the arrangement of road transport over the gap. The blockage of the roads was eventually cleared earlier than expected and led to the abandonment of those plans and the train returned to Taumarunul to travel to New Plymouth via Marlon and Wanganui. Floods and torrential rain were reported on Mount Egmont during the past few days. Rain Gauge Overflows The worst flood for several years occurred in the Kapuni River at Dawson Falls on Wednesday night and the site of the old power hous.e was completely covered. The rain -which fell at the North Egmont Hostel on Tuesday overflowed th* rain gauge, which measures up to 11 inches.