FLOODS AND WASHOUTS IN THE NORTH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 94, 22 April 1911, Page 9

FLOODS AND WASHOUTS IN THE NORTH

AUCKLAND, 21st April. Sevoral holiday visitors are in an unfortunate predicament at Karekare, on the West Coast, being practically floodbound, as the result of the recent rains, and prevented from returning to Auckland until the waters have subsided. Heavy rains fell all over the district on Thursday morning last. The creeks were flooded, and ran bank-high, while five bridges in the vicinity of Karekare were carried away, and the danger to travellers was inoreased by the biirsting of a big dam. Numerous slips and washouts occurred on the road, making it impossible for the mail coach from Waikumete to get through to Karekare. A vast quantity of debris, including several large kauri logs left over after timber-milling operations, was carried at a rapid rate down the stream, causing general destruction to fences. WELCOME RAIN IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, 21.*t April. The prolonged spell of dry weather | which has recently affected tho country

districts of Canterbury was broken last night by heavy and very welcome rain from the north-east, which has every appearance of continuing. The rain will have comparatively small effect in town. It is in the country that the great benefit will be felt, as along the sea coast from Timaru to the Peninsula land has b-sen parched, and feed had become scarce. Heavy showers on Easter Monday freshened things up a, little, but these were by no means sufficient to do much permanent good. Now. however, there appears to be somechance of a- thorough soaking. Qnfortunately this rain has come too late to sa,ye the turnip crop, which has been practically ruined by aphides and other pests. Incidentally I'he rain -will make , ploughing operations possible, the ground for some little time past having been too hard to be broken. TIMARU, 21st April. Welcome rain has been falling and has not yet ceased. SALVATION ARMY'S STREET MEETINGS CHEISTCHURCH, 21st April. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. Bailey, S.M., Alfred Thurkettle, adjutant of the Salvation Army, was charged with having delivered an address in Cathedral-square on 14th April without permission of the Christchurch City Council. There was a. similar charge with regard to 15th April. Defendant was also charged with praying aloud in Cathedral-square on 17th April without permission of the council. Mr. Flesher, who appeared for defendant, asked for a remand for a week. Sub-Inspector M'Grath said h© noticed by 'the papers that* the Army intended to continue to hold meetings. He wauled an undertaKing that the offence would not be repeattd if the cases were- adjourned. Mr. Flesher said he would not give such an undertaking. Mr. Flesher said' one of the charges was "praying aloud in Cathedral-square without the permission of the City Council." This was a new phase of the question. Mr. M'Grath said the cases were similar to one already decided by his Worship in connection with this by-law. The Magistrate said he thought the Aniry, seeing the matter was sub judice, oughb to refrain from holding further meetings in the Square. If they did not refrain from, so doing an information, ought to be laid every time. He granted an adjournment for a week. CENSUS RETURNS. TIMAETJ, 21st, April. The census return gives the population of the borough as 11,311, an increase of 3696 on the last census, but the area has been enlarged in the meantime. v HASTINGS, 21st April. The census shows the population of -Hastings to be 6270, an increase x>f 1678 since 1906.