INIMATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 780, 1 April 1910, Page 5

INIMATION.

HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS. RIVERS BANK HIGH. THE DISASTER OF 1897 MAY BE REPEATED. (By Telegraph.—Special Oorresoondent.) Napier, March 81. There is no rift in the sky, and no sign of any cessation of the southerly gale and heavy rain which have been making matters so unpleasant during the past four days. Tho downpour has been so incessant that it is dislodging portions of tho hillsides in Napier, and. has submerged great stretches of country. Unless the weather takes a turn, and that speedily, the position of settlers in the Papakura, Meeanee, and Clive districts will be serious indeed, and the outlook at present points to the possibility of a repetition of the disaster of 1897. Scenes in Napier, All the low-lying parts of Napier have suffered considerably, one phase' being the blocking of sewers. From the gasworks down to the railway station, the permanent way is under water. At 9 o'clock this morning the railway workshops were invaded by flood water, and in consequence had to close down. The employees waded knee deep to their work this morning, but when they arrived thoj had to return home. Passengers by tho express and early train this morning had to walk ankle deep in water to reach the station. The Eecreation Ground is under water, and there is more prospect of a rowing match eventuating on it than of the Australian oricket match.

Bombarding the Breakwater. The breakwater is being subjected to a supreme-test to-day, and a steady stream of people watched the sight. They had some .difficulty in negotiating . the; entrance to the wharf, as the sea has broken in at the shingle bed corner and formed quite a river. The spectators walked knee deep' in somo instances to reach a coign of vantage, and were rewarded by witnessing a magnificent spectacle.. Tremendous seas were coining over the breakwater structure, throwing up cascades of water and foam to a great height, creating an awe-inspiring sight and yet possessing a powerful attraction —a veritable series of Waimangus. It seemed to all appearance that no damage whatever has been sustained by the structure itself. This is clearly the best test that could be given to the efficacy of the breakwater against the terrific ocean rollers. The great turmoil outside the breakwater was contrasted with the enclosed area, .which was as calm as the proverbial millpond. Level With the Stopbank. At 10 o'clock this morning the water in the Tutaekuri Eiver mounted to the level of the stopbank, and commenced to flow over just ,behind the Miraion at Meeanee. The bank is very high at this point, as it has broken out. there before.

As yet, the bank is intact. The water went down a couple of inches during the early morning, but rose again later, and the aspect is very threatening. There are houses immediately under the stopbank, and anyone' standing on the top of the bank is on a level with the roofs. If a breach occurs it may be accompanied by serious consequences. i Aieeanee is as yet free from actual flood, but great areas are covered with surface water. The water is up to ifeeanee bridge, and men are busily engaged trying .to keep drifting timber away, as a block! would be fraught with very serious results. The water is flowing over between the Mceanee and the Black bridges, as it did yesterday,, and lower Papakura, with' the exception of a-couple of paddocks, is practically flooded. ■, ... , , . | Sixty Sheep Lost. . I So far, houses are safe. .It is estimated that about sixty sheep have been drowned in lower Papakura. The majority; of owners have shifted their stock. A reporter this morning journeyed by rail to view the country between Hastings and Clive. After'passing Whakatu, the Karamu stream showed out, running bank to bank in an angry torrent, out its neighbour, the Ngaruroro, though sweeping along majestically under the railway bridge, a sullen muddy mass, was still some feet from the bank level, indicating that tho banks would be easily : able to deal with a much greater pressure "of water. Just about here the railway was awash with flood 1 waters. The spinning wheels flung out in circles a continual Bpray as they sizzled their way through the obstruction. : i ' Great Inundated Area. Turning a bend, a magnificent though distressing sight met the gaze. The Tntaekuri had broken. through, and the country on the left hand side as far as the eye can reach,'and to the northward, seemingly into Napier, is one great expanse of muddy, water, broken by isolated trees hora and thera lifting themselves above the surface like lonely sentinels over the surrounding desolation. Looking from Farndon Railway Station, Papakura seemed to be completely' subraergedi

Boats in the Stwrts'of Clive. At the foot of the incline leading from the bridge into the Clive township, the trouble commences, and Olive is under a flood. Boats are plying in the streets, and some residents have boats on their properties ready for use- in. case of necessity. However, although a few of the householders have deemed it expedient to shift to safer quarters, there is a general feeling of security, resulting in confidence in the capacity of the river banks. At time.of writing (noon) the Ngaruroro waters appeared to be-slightly subsiding, although the Tutaeknri flood gave no such indication. I '*

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (By Telcfraph.-Presß Association.' Napier, March 31. Thero is still little immediate prospect of the weather clearing, and the position of settlers in the Meeanee and Papakura districts is becoming serious. . Already some sixty sheep have been drowned, and settlors are. hurrying stock to the high lands. '.'■'•■ The water in tho Tutaeknri River has now reached the top of the stopbank, and tho safety of Meeanee depends on tho bank withstanding the enormous pressure. If a breach occurs, a big area will be inundated. , At Clive there is 3ft, of water in tho main street. Tho railway line is submerged in places, but traffic has not been interrupted: A terrific sea running in the bay is hampering shipping movements. . . THE LATEST. . .' A MOEE OPTIMISTIC REPORT. Napier, March 31. Reports from tho districts near Napier go to show that the floods are subsiding. Meeanee was _not flooded. The water was for some time near the top of the stopbank, but a band of workers averted danger. The losses of stock, so far as is known, •are insignificant. The weather shows signs of clearing. WAIROA WHARF FLOATS DOWN , RIVER. NUHAKA BRIDGE REPORTED WASHED AWAY. Wairoa, March 31. - A storm, with terrific rain, has been raging since yesterday. All the rivers are in heavy flood. The wharves are submerged, and the riverside sheds and stores are being cleared. The Harbour Board oifices are flooded, and all low-lying lands are under water. Several settlers on tho town flat aro cut off from tho town. In tho country there nro several bridges 20ft, under water, and settlers aro cut off. Thero are landslides and slips in all directions. Telegraphic communication with the north i» -interrupted. AH '

coaches are blocked. Stock losses varo likely to-be ■ heavy. A report to bind states, .that tho Nuhaka Bridge, built by the Government thice or fonr years ago at a cost of .£3OOO or .£4OOO, has been washed away, isolating the Nuhaka settlers. The Wairoa Wharf has jnst floated pas? the town on its way to the sea. At the Scaniperdown Bridge the ap. proach from the Frasertown Eoad has been washed, away, and the bridge is sagging in tho centre and is not likely tc stand tho night if, as expected, tho river rises again by midnight. AT EOTOEUA. Rotorua, March ft. A gale of cyclonic force has been raging since i o'ebek yesterday morning. Then is no sign of its abatement.' Many trees in the Sanatorium Grounds have" been up rooted, and much damage has been done. One tree fell in close proximity to th« Sanatorium, and many large trees at Pukeroa Hill were blown down, some of which fell across the streets, blocking vehicular traffic to Ohinemuhi. A coachshed, brionging to the Waiwera Coachin? Company, collapsed. The roof of Kusab'e sawmill was blown off, and many trees on the Whakarewarewa Koad were blown down. The express from Auckland yesterday and to-day was half an hour late, end a goods train, due at 3 o'clock last night, arrived at 1 o'clock this morning. There have been several narrow escapes from injury by falling trees, but no ono has been hurt. Two .irindows in the Grand Hotel were blown in, A launch on Lake Rotomahani was sunk last tight. Visi. tors making the round trip had to wal]- ; I round the lake to reach Waimangu. ■ ; '

DBEDGE SINKS AT NEW. , ■ .'■ PLYMOUTH. New Plymouth) March 31. The gale is abating a littlo. It raged with great farce during the night. Scores of chimneys were blown down and buildings unroofed. The Harbour Board's dredge Thoma* King broke from her moorings, and sard* close lo the wharf. .--...■ HEAVY RAIN AND WASHAWAYS. (Br Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, March'3l. The gale,, which has been raging for; three days, blew itself out to-day. Tele< graph communication -with the south has been out off for two'days, but now it if partially restored. Only one line is, however, working, and this is' blocked with private business. ,:■'•■; Nearly four inches of rain fell at Anckland between 3 p.m. and midnight. oi Tuesday, causing washaways on the rail' ways.. SUNNY NELSON. (By Teleeraph—Press Association.). Nelson, March 31. : Nelson has so far escaped from thi stormy weather, having been beautifullj fine since before Easter. . - / COMMUNICATIONS STILL INTER.; RUPTED. ••..;■ Rain squalls, and a wintry blast from the south, swept over the city yesterday, but there were signs that tho vigour, of the heavy gale which wrought such havoi in the north was abating. TclegraphU communication with certain districts is, however, still interrupted. : Paeroa (Thames district), on Wednes day, was in a sorry plight, to judge bj the following message from the Chief Postmaster, Thames, to the secretary of tho General Post Office:—"Heaviest flood ever known in Paeroa occurred this morning (Wednesday). The streets are submerged to a depth of' three or four feet, and the banks and most of the business premises are flooded out. Heavy rain, accompanied -by a north-east gale, still continues, and the water is still rising.' Telegraph and railway communication are interrupted between .Paeroa and Waihi, also railway communication . between Paeroa and Te Aroha." At nine p.m. yesterday communicatibi with Auckland was partially restored, but subject to frequent interruption. A large accumulation of work remains to be'cleared off; ■■:.-;:•"-••. - ■> ,