HEAVY FLOODS IN NORTH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 1 July 1937, Page 7

HEAVY FLOODS IN NORTH

-Press Assopintion )

Trains Held Up and Roads Blocked FARMS UNDER WATER

I By Tclpfirraph—

l AUCKLAND, Dast Night. Iraina were held up, roads were Mocked to all trafflc and farm lands irere flooded as a result of the heavy rain that fell in all parts of North Auckland on Wednesday night and to-day. Rain waa still fall- ' ing to-night and further heavy floodlng is likeiy. Ihe continued rain washed out a hole i eight feet wide and four feet deep on the xailw&y line between Akerama and Towai north, of Whangarei and prevent•ettthe expresses to and from Opua from getting througu to-day. -The southbound express from Opua was held up «t Towai and arrangements were made for a temporary motor service .to Huke-, renui. After one load of passengers, had been • transferred, however, the flood waters rose and the motor >ehiclo in use broke down. | gome of the through passengers for ' Auckland walked xound the flooded portion of the line and continued their journey by train, leaving Whangarei ihortly after five o'clock to-night, but the xemainder were forced to return to Towai. The flood waters rose very high in ihe afternoon and there was six feet of Water over the main highway at Hukerenui. The expresa from Auckland got M lar as Hukerenui on the southern »ide of the damaged portion of the | line late this afternoon after running on the submerged ttack for nearly a mile. Most of the passengers for Stations beyond Hukerenui spent the night at Whangarei. No further daniage to the permanent. way was reported to-night and although there was flooding of the line at Wayby, between Wellsford and Kaipara ITats, the express leaving Auckland at 4.5 p.m. got through to Whangarei withont much difficulty. As a result of the bad weather there .will be no trains from north of Whakapara and the express ,to Auckland will start from there. Unless weather conditions are greatly improved, it is doubtful Whether tho aorth-bound express f will , proceed further than Whakapara to-morrow afternoon. Reports xecoived by the Automobile Assoeiation (Auckland) sthted that most of the main xoutes north of Whangarei were blocked to trafflc by flood wafers. The main road from Whangarei was blocked by a slip inthe Waipu Gorge, but this was cleared away . .and the road was open agaih in .the afternoon. The flood waters near Portland had fallen sufflciently in the afternoon to allow motorists ' through. Further south tho main highway was clear of water, but the indications tonight were that if might be blocked by Water to-morrow.