STORM AND FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2152, 19 May 1914, Page 6

STORM AND FLOODS

GALE IN COOK STRAIT

STEAMERS RUN FOR SHELTER

For the past three daya Cook Strait hns been on its worst behaviour in tho matter of. weather, and shipping has suffored. Vessels aj'riying in port liavo reported very bad .weather in the passage, and several cv" the smaller stcamera have boon compelled to run for shelter. The littlp coaster Aorero, which left I'atea last Friday, was anchored in Titahi Bay yesterday, whilo tho Kennedy, en route frojn Terakohe to Wellington, has been compelled to jyichor in tho French Pass. Before sho cleared tho Heads yesterday morning, tho Hiiia mado two ■unsuccessful efforts to leave port. ■ . " ■

It took the Mapourika 36 hours to :ome from Westport to Wellington, and she did not arrivo in port till 10 a.m. yesterday. Fine weather was experienced till Farewell Spit was abeam, and then t'tio full force of tho southerly qah was felt. Heavy seas pounded against the steamer, and tho wind blew with hurricane force. Consequently, the vessel's progrgss at times was very slow. However, sho managed to make port none tho worso for her rough handling.

RISING FLOODS. SERIOUS POSITION IN HAWKE'S • ' ■ . '■' BAY. (By Telcjrraph.—Special CorresDondonU Napier, May 18. Oyer five inches of rain havo fallen in Napier during the last SG hours, and the weather is very boisterous. Heavy seas are running, and tho breakwater is quito .unworkable. Tho steamer Kauri, which was working there, was compelled to leave yesterday, and anchor in the roadstead. Land-slips are reported from all over the district, the Napier, AVairoa., and Taupo roads .suffering most. Miles of country are covered with surface water, and numerous, settlers have suffered considerable loss by winter feed being damaged. The settlers at Meaneo yesterday removed their stock to higher land, in anticipation of a flood, but, though tho rain continues, tho rivers near Napier show a slight improvement. At Patoka, however, the river is tho highest that it has been for 15 years. Tho flood waters between Napier and Jlcanee aregetting away at present owing to tho river jnoiiths remaining open, but should present conditions continue for another 48 hours a severe Hood will be practically unavoidable. Tho Wairoa boat was uuablo to sail owing to sv heavy sea running, and tho cadets from there who are attending tho inspection by Sir lan Hamilton will have to remain at Napier until the weather clears. To-night-there is no-indication that tho .weather will moderate, and tho sea is increasing in force every hour. '_

Rain has fallen continuously throughout Hawko's Bay since Saturday afternoon," and at 11 o'clock to-night there was still no sign of tho weather clearing, 'i'hq strong southerly has also brought up. a heavy sea, and generally I'oiiditions ar6 - extremely unpleasant. There is much-water on tho low-lying parts'of the country, and many slips are reported on country roads. At Ttitira Station tho rainfall for forty hours was over nine 'inches; while hi' Napier it was nearly four inches. Owing to the high sea' the Warrimoo .was unable to berth at the breakwater, and is standing off till the weather moderates,,, whjlp., tho Zealandic and Kauri put out to sea. All the rivers are considerably swollen, but none has so far overflowed its banks except at Papakura, where stock had to he removed tc higher land. • No losses of stock are reported.

RESERVOIR GIVES WAY. fßj Telegraph.—Pre«* Aisoolatlon.) •"■' ■ Wanganul, May 't'A. As tho result of heavy rain on Friday and Saturday the concrete retaining wall'of • the reservoir at Waverley, built in connection with the electric light and Wator scheme, was undermined owing to tho overflow, and collapsed. It cost £1600 to construct. , POSTAL SERVICES UPSET. The Telegraph Department advised at 8 o'clock last night that communication with Gisborno liad beou totally interrupted all day. Napier reported that the weather was very bad, and tlio country is flooded, and there is little chance of communication being restored to-day. The postmistress at Mohaka lias had to abandon her office owingtofloods. The approach to tho Mohaka bridge has been washed away, and it is feared that the bridge will go also. ■WaiTOa repoits that the river is in high flood, and there is no chance of any mails leaving there for several days. Telegrams for Auckland and district were showing over two hours' delay at 11.30 p.m. yesterday, owing to line interruptions. ...