GALE AND TORRENTIAL RAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21751, 20 June 1934, Page 8

GALE AND TORRENTIAL RAIN

SERIOUS FLOODING IN NORTH AUCKLAND PACK HORSES CARRY FOOD TO MAROOKED TRAIN [Pe* United Press Associmor.] AUCKLAND, Juno 19. A heavy north-east gale raged from an early hour this morning with torrential ram. North Auckland experienced the full force of the storm which' caused serious flooding in many areas. The seas in the harbour were very high and the ferry boats were severely buffeted. The WanganelJa, which was due from Sydney at 7 o’clock, did not arrive . until I o’clock owing to the thick weather. The unloading of her cargo was delayed by the rain and the Wanganella is not expected to sail for Sydney until 2 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Slips and washouts dislocated railway communication with places north of Swanson. The most serious trouble was a large slip in the early afternoon at the northern end of the Waitakere tunnel where about 400 cubic yards of material came down, covering the lino for two chains to a depth of from six feet to eight feet. The clearing of the debris was put in hand as quickly as > possible, and a work train was sent from Auckland, but owing to the extent of the slip it is not expected that the lino will be clear until late to-morrow

The express which left Auckland lor Whangarei at 8.40 became “ marooned ” with its seventy passengers near Kanolii, about two miles north of Kaukapakapa. On its journey north the express encountered no trouble until it was held up by the flood waters.which covered the line at Wayby to ii depth of over three feet. It was their decided to return to Auckland, but when Kanohi was reached it was found that a washout of over a length of twenty-two chains had occurred. Then* was no alternative but to remain them until temporary repairs could bo effected. As soon as the plight of tho express was learned arrangements were made from the Auckland tram running office to convey food to tho marooned passengers. This was sent from Kaukapakapa by lorry and then by pack horse over tho flooded portion. Temporary repairs were subsequently effected to the washout, and tho express was able to proceed south to Helensville, which was reached shortly after 8.30. Many of the passengers went to local hotels to spend the night, and the remainder were made comfortable in tho carriages, _of the train and in the railway station. If will not bo known until morning whether the passengers will he taken north or brought back to Auckland.; The passengers on the down express were warned at Whangarei that they could be taken only as far as Wellsford, and from that point many of them travelled by motor truck to tho northern end of the slip in Dome Valley. They had to walk through mud over the slip to the southern end, from which point they were brought to Auckland by service cars. All the main roads to the north of Auckland are impassable owing to tho flooding. The Main North road was completely blocked late this morning by a largo slip in Dome Valley.