HEAVY RAIN IN NORTH.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16855, 8 June 1920, Page 6

HEAVY RAIN IN NORTH.

» RAILWAY TRAFFIC i DISORGANISED. I DAMAGE BY FLOODS. (rKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND, J""© 7. Considerable damage to roads and bridges by floods is reported by country correspondents of the "Herald." Ono death is reported. Frank Dunkley, supervisor for the Public Works Department. was inspecting damage near J Otovohanga, when ho got into difficuli ties in the wash-out and was swept otf i his horse and drowned. Although tho rain Ims ceased, the Waikato river was in heavy flood tonight, and was rising at the rate of an inch an hour. Several roads wero under water. A small slip occurred on the railway lino to the Pukemiro coai mine, but men worked all day on Sunday and clcared the debris. The railway services throughout tho province are more or less disorganised. fMr Dunkley was the eldest son of jMr A. Dunk'ley, 253 Selwyn street, I I Christchurch.l j TE ICTJITI, June 7. 1 The torrential rain experienced on j Saturday night flooded Te Kuiti. The water invaded several shops, and the damage was fairly heavy. The town ! was isolated by slips on the main roads, i Yesterday's express from tho .North got j through, but this niorninp the water ! rose- rapidly, and the line between I'angataiki and Otcrohanga was covered to a depth of three feet The express from the South stopped here. Several bridges have been washed away in tho country district, and there are numerous slips. Tho weather cleared to-day, and it js hoped to got trains through to-morrow. KOTOIvtIA, June 7. During the 48 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day 9.11 inches of rain fell here. The Utukina stream roso ten foot, and the water entered a few of the houses on its hanks, but no serious damage resulted. The Auckland express left about 1 p.m., and the inward express is expected about 9 p.m. The wash-out at Mamaku was temporarily repaired, but at tho wash-out at Put arum the passengers had to be transferred. All tho roads to the coast aro interrupted, the mail cars having to return. The Whakatano road is not expected to be restored this week. The weather is now fine. TAUHANGA, June 7. The easterly gale which commenced with a heavy downpour of rain on Thursday evening, spent itself Jast evening, 11J inches of rain being recorded during that period. Both the electrical supply and tho water supply were cut off yesterday. The former was restored this morning, but the restoration of the water supply is uncertain. All tho rivers in tho district were heavily flooded, but no serious damage is reported. There are several washouts on the railway lino between here and Matata, and the regular service will probably bo suspended for some days. TAUMARUXUI, Juno 7. Tiie heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday flooded tho Wanganui and Ongarue rivers, which were the highest they havo been for four years, both rivers running bank to bank. There has been a fair amount of erosion, but nothing serious. The new traffic bridge and the protection works on the Wanganui river stood the test well. At the boat landing the Ongarue was 9ft above ordinary water mark, and it is doubtful if tho river boat can go down to-day. It is reported there is 2(>ft of extra water at* tho Houseboat, which is now anchored over flower beds. v