TORRENTIAL RAIN.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1917, Page 3

TORRENTIAL RAIN.

Serious Damage Reported.

Whakatane,, Feb 23

A torrential rainstorm broke over Whakatane on Wednesday night, and caused cousiderable damage to reads and private property. Id waa the moat severe storm here for many year*. SmaU streams from the bill back of the town became roaring torrents, and eve;flowed their banks, submerging all the low-lying portions of tho town. Bridges and culverts wore blocked by debris. lu one locality the residents were taken from a flooded house in vehicles. The Town Board office, on the bank of tho Wairere Creek, was undermined and washed fifty yards down stream. Same sheep wore drowned in tho domain.

Extensive landslips blocked the Valley road and the Maraatotara Gorge, All telegraphic and telephone communication outside tho place was interrupted till this afternoon. The school was eurronndad by water. When it subsided it left an enormous quantity of driftwood on the street, which is considerably damaged. It will probably be some weeks before all the roads are opened for vehicular traffic.

Storm Area Widespread.

Gisrorne Feb 23

The rough easterly that has been experienced during the last few days has abated bat heavy rain continues. Up to 9 o’clock this morniDg 7.37 inches had fallen for twelve days’ registration. Considerable silting has occurred in the river and harbor, interfering with shipping. Waiapu County reports state that the storm has been heavy, the floods almost equalling those in May last. At Tokomaru Bay a brake proceeding to the wharf capsized in the stream end wes washed out to sea. A motorcar stuck in the river and was also washed out to sea. The steamer Monowai, which arrived last night, had a very rough passage of 42 hours from Auckland. The Arahnra has been detaiued here for two days, being unable to land her cargo owing to the rain.