AFTER THE STORM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 6

AFTER THE STORM.

NORTHERN COLDFIELDS SUFFER. (By TelecraDh.-Preae' Association.) ' Auckland, April 1. Latest advices from Paeroa (near the junction of the Ohinemuri and the Waihou Puivera) show that the floods were far-reaching, affecting rfiot only Paeroa but all the townships along the PaeroaWaibi railway (which runs by the bank of the Ohinemuri River). Karanwahake and Waikino (where the Waihi°Goldminmg Company's main reduction plant is situated) suffered considerably from the rise "of the river. On Wednesday night'the wind at Paeroa blew a hurricane from the east. The rivor rose to such an extent that a large part of the residential portion of the district was submerged, and people were flooded out. One four-roomed house was washed away, and outhouses, trees, and almost anything movable, were washing about. Dead sheep., and cattle marked the course of the river, ..and the farmers have been heavy losers. The tunnel at Karangahake, on-the Paeroa-Waihi railway, is blocked with logs and rocks, and communication beyond Paeroa is completely blocked. Slips occurred all along the railway line, and considerable damage has been done to the permanent way. At the height of the flood on Wednesday night the fires at the gasworks were extinguished, and the township of Paeroa was plunged into darkness. The Waihi Gold-mining Company is a heavy loser, the, damage to its plant and other property running into ' four figures. The Talisman Company's property, Karangahake, has also suffered severely. The. iron water-race and battery have been very badly damaged. Waikino was badly flooded, there being seven feet of ; water in the shops on the main road. Residents were reined from their dwellings on rafts. Tie flood water is now receding.' "■..■■■■ AT WA/HI. RBCOBD GALE AND RAINFALL. The following has been received by the secretary of ■ the' G.P.O. from: the postmaster, ■Wa£hi:-- ' ~ ' ■ ; '"Severe gale and flood. Twelve inches of rain ; between midnight ;on March- 29 and. 1 p.m. on March 30 causing great damage. Heaviest gale known m this, district. , ..', . Waihi is nofed for its winds, and a record gala in % golden oity must have been something very considerable indeed. . :„■. , .

(By TelecriDh.-SDeoial OorreepondeiiU Auckland, April 1. ■ The easterly gale that raged in Auckland for two days is the worst experienced for many; years. On Tuesday afternoon and night nearly four inches of ram fell,. and on the following day upwards of two inches was: recorded The total fall in. three days was 6* inches. ■ ■ * ■ ■ : -In addition to floods at Paeroa aiid the Kaapara the .gale caused a senous interruption in the telegraph communication between Auckland and .the country south of tho city. The northern lines were also interfered with, but not to the same extent as 'the wires in the opposite direction. From before noon on 'Wednesday Auckland was isolated froin'the south—the longest period for many years for which we have been put. of it was not until .2 p.m., yesterday that i communication began to vbe restored. The barometer were very tow during the storm and there -was a fall _of considerably over an inch, which is very rapid fall indeed. The lowest "reading -by .the'; museum ■ instrument was "at 6. p.m.' on Wednesday, iSfe MPSk iffIJSTV&i «?.&<£ -29 was- re-,co'rded:"-"Th'e"baromete?: subsequently, rose _ about four-tenths, ..and continued, to nse. . Mr.'. Cheeseman said it-.was not often that the barometer fell below 29 in -Auckland.;' He is'of opinion' that the blow we have just' had is: the ■ western side of '-the'- cyclonic' disturbance that visited Fiji and: travelled down to our latitude, the centre passing considerably to the -north.

WAffiOA: NEW BRIDGE .. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) . ■•Wairoa,'April-1. Though it- is still raining slightly, the rivers have fallen considerably, •especially the Wairoa,'-where the mouth last night-was fuHy a thousand -yards wide. - The :-new • Frasertown bridge across the.-Wairoa: , stood tfie severe strain splendidly. > \ The river rose. 50 feet. -The Scamperdown bridge was badly damaged;- and will need 'new piles.Stock losses have been heavy in young' sheep.: . -.-..■ ... -. MONOWAI- PASSES GISBORNE. (By Teleeraph.—Press Association.) .-. _'. • . Napier, April 1. The Monowai arrived from Auckland at 7 o'clock this morning, having been unable to. pick up Gisbonie.. The steamer was compelled to seek shelter near Te Araroa, aad experienced a very, tempestuous voyage down the coast., ,'STACKS SCATTERED. ~-. .(Bj Toietraph.-Press AssocliUoH.f New Plymouth, April 1. Reports are-coming in now of damago: in country districts by "Bates's" gale. Stacks of hay and; grain have in many oases been scattered'- abroad, farm buildings have been unroofed, and great damage has been' done to standing crops of maize and turnips.' SITUATION AT GISBORNE. IBy ' TeleeraDli.—Press Association.! Gisborne, April 1. ■Heavy rain and a howling gale continued throughout the night. Country, settlers, fearing a. flood were busy removing stock, to higher ground. Yesterday afternoon the Waipaoa River ovorflowed its banks at Ormond, Waerengaabika and Buslsmere, and some portions of flat country about Makauri were inundated. On the. railway'there is a wash-out at Ormond. The evening train was unable to get to town last night There • was 4ft."of water in the tunnel at Karaka and a slip has come down on the line at Paikohu. Advice has been received from Te Araroa that the steamer Monowai is sheltering there. A heavy southerly, sea is running. . A slip occurred on Kaiti Hill at midnight, twisting round-a house occupied by A. Scott, who with his wife, had to make a hurried exit, and came to town in the drenching rain in their nightclothes. At Ormond the Presbyterian Church. bell rang at's a.m. to warn settlers. There is 3ft. of water in a number of houses in that township. The flood has not reached within the two or three feet level of the 1906 flood, and is not regarded as- being very serious, tho settlers having _ had ■ ampQo time' to -place stock on high ground. A -number of maize crops have been destroyed, by the fuxv. of. the gaJe, and , the Vain.. The weather at 8 a.m. shows slight 'signs of abating though tho gale is still heavy and rain squalls frequent. I

ACGOJIMODATION HOUSE .... ■ ' WRECKED. The weather now seems settled, and tho flood waters are rapidly subsiding, leaving a thick coating of silt in the. paddocks and in the houses that wore swamped. Additional damage reported is tho wreck of Cooper's accommodation houso at Morere Springs. It is a largo single-Btory wooden biiilding leased by Mr. Bellerby. The flood water got under it, , and part has fallen into the adjacent river,, which had .encroached on the bank just by the houses. The new bridge at Pnkarao connecting Gisborne with tho coast traffic is very shaky, and numerous daps hare occurred nn that route.