HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3109, 13 June 1917, Page 6

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS

MUCH DAMAGE IN HAWKE'S BAY

LARGE AREA UNDER WATER

Br Telegraph-Press Association.

' Sorim,. a ! ' Napier, June 12. Serious flood* are threatened. iVinetyWy- our hour., ending at 9 a.m. t<- ««\ • i ? I . bewi raini "S since. lTnli 00d H™ not ? et repaired. Unless the weather clears, of which thero serious ProSpects M<w « the floO(1 mu "it b " T^ h ! re j,t consi .dcrablo surface water about Ihe train traffic between tho town and Hastings is suspended. There are two feet of water on the line between ilarndon and Whakatw. It is still raining heavily, and the rivers mre rising rapidly. The outlook lor tho low-lying; couutry is bad, as tho sea is blocking in the rivers. There is no sign of the weather clearing.

~,, Later. Ihe floods in the Jfapier district exceed in severity those of 1897. Large stretches of country are iniudated, and all the country roads ere impassable. At -Napier the rainfall for forty-eight hours , was. 7.3s'incßKiraty settlers have been rescued in the Harbour Board's and Richardson and Company's boats, ami biff lifeboats fall of peoplo sail over tho fences. The etock casualties are light,-as warning was given. ' There have been various rumours as to deaths by drowning, but do facts have como to light yet. It is said that one of the rescue boats got into difficulties, and that two men aro missing , . ■Many; residents of Napier South are living in city hotels owing to the deep eurfnee water in the suburbs. There is no train or motor service between Napier and Hastings. .- The Arahurn. has not yet been report'cd as arriving at Gisborne. She left Napier on Monday night. Taradale is inundated, and the bridges are oxpected to go. Many of the country bridges are in a bad way. Latest reports from Fernhill are that tho Ngaruroro River has fallen slightly, and tho bridge is intact. A big slip at Maraetofara has blocked tho road, and it will be two or three days before it is cleared for traffic. The rainfall at Mafnetotara in thirty-six hours ■wag 101 inches.

The Wellington-Napier express arrived , at Hastings half an hour late. It was unable to proceed to Napier.

Hastings, June 12. ""It-lias mined continuously here since 1(1 o'clock on Sunday, and is still raining. . Six inches have been already recorded. Reports to date show that the whole country between Napier and Hastings is again under "water. The early train from Napier got through, but the Wellington express found the permanent way unsafe near TVliakatu, and returned to Napier. A substitute for the express was dispatched to Wellington from Hastings at 3.45, but carried no Napier passengers. ■I--.Whakatu is badly flooded. The residents are having difficulty in removing ■themselves and their belongings in drays to a place of safety. . The Ngaruroro at !Farndon has broken •its. banks, and the surrounding country isi under water. The water is level with .1 he railway platform at Farndon station. Hundreds of carcasses of stock have been .seeri'floating down the river.

at Pakowhai declare that it •is'.othe worst flood experienced. The KuMbTuki River is rising rapidly, but #,e. estuary is clear, although a heavy sea lis/jTunning. ;

amount of surface water is lying about Hastings. slany residents <ffo surrounded by a sea of water.- One drapery firm ' reports stock valued at ■«&iOJI as being damaged. ~.,Heajvy slips on the Havelock-Waimara. ■i;oad;.-,ai;e interrupting traffic and teleJihgne ( ;communication. The flood Teach.ed. the Waipaia Va. on the luiramu JEoad, 'and is still rising. Pettlere iu the vicinity of Hastings Testerday .removed their 'stock from the Inlying paddocks. Consequently, the Josses here will not. be heavy. The water .reached, the floor of the offices at tho •TyTiakatu Meat Company's works. Two settlers at Omahu report the loss of,. 1000: sheep. The water is flowing .o'ver the approaches to Omahu bridge. Thei'istructure is iu great danger, as the still rising. '"'Serious damage at gisborne. ",!b;qeoii.gk water sotplt ikter- ..;;,; i ;; i y; rtjpted. . V< ?•!':>(:-. Gisborne, June 12. •i/.Ai storm set in on Sunday night, and h'4g continued without remission since, and-up to 3 p.m. 7.30 inches of rain hav« fallen in Gislx>rue, while a≤ much as 14.30 inches have been recorded at some country stations. All the. streams are in heavy flood, and the Waipaoa River has inundated portion of the flats, and the water is still rising. Serious damage, lias been done in various parts of the but the most serious is the carrying away of six bridges supporting the:;pipe which brings in the borough .water.supply. This means that Gisborne: will have no water for at least ten daysj.and it will cost several thousands of ■pounds.to repair the damage. Settlers have..-had plenty of warning, and no peiious losses of stack are expected. The Arahura, which left Napier on Monday night, has not yet been reported, ami she is'.probably keeping at sea till the ■weather moderates. ;" ijv ~ PAEROA FLOODED. : '' : Auckland, June. 12. ( Paeroa reports that, 'owing to heavy rain, the Waihou and Ohinemuri llivers tire'"flooded. All low-lying parts of the borough and th.o surroumliug districte are under water. No serious damage is reported.