DAMAGE BY THE FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2154, 21 May 1914, Page 6

DAMAGE BY THE FLOODS

HEAVY LOSS IN WAIROA RIVERS NOW SUBSIDING (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) V/alroa, May 20. There aro unconfirmed reports that tho Waikari tral'ic bridge, erected by tho Public Works Department on the Napier-Wairoa road, is gone. The total estimated damage caused bv tho flood in tho county is over £90,000.

The river at last has had its way, and broken down one of the harbour walls, causing a'gap of some tiUO feet in length through thj crown of the eastern wall inside tho estuary. The breach occurred during tho night, when the flood was at its highest, discharging—Mr. Reynolds estimates—in the neighbourhood of 15,000,000 cubic feet per minute. The water over-topping tho wall made a rush for. the lagoon behind, thus causing a breach. As instancing the severity of the flood and its dangerous potentialities, : tho velocity at the works- was from 25 to 30 feet per second, equal to from seventeen to twenty miles per hour. At the town front it was 15 feet per second. The weather is now clearing, aiid tho rivers have been falling slowly sinco Sunday. Up the Waikare-moana Road 29.63 points of rain fell. The Wairoa rose 20ft., but tho bridges mi tlie rflute are safe. The Mohaka bridge, which is a valuablo one, stood the great strain. The river fell Bft. last night. In tho Nuhaka and Morere districts little or no damage was done. WEATHER CLEAR AT CISBORNE. RAILWAY TRAFFIC STILL HELD XFP. Clsborne, May 20. The weather has now cleared, and the flood waters have subsided. The 'total-rainfall at Gisborno since Saturday is 8.03 in., and for the month 12.03 in. Railway traffic is still suspended. REPORTS FROM NAPIER. .' Napier, May. 20. All the rivers in Hawko's -Bay are rapidly subsiding. No material damage has' been reported: other • than at Wairoa.' - ■ ■• • •• ■ ANOTHER GALE PREDICTED. .After practically a week of southerly weather in Cook Strait, tho gale blew itself out during the early hours of yesterday morning, and the sea went down rapidly. Shipping, which has been at a standstill in Wellington, became active once ! again, and 6teamers which had been sheltering in various places began to move during the day. Towards evening all the "expected arrivals" bad made port. Those peoplo in a position.to judge, and many teafaring men, state that yesterday's weather is only "a calm before a storm," and it is anticipated that during the nest 3G hours Wellington and Cook Strait will bo visited by another, howling southerly.