FLOOD DAMAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1924, Page 3

FLOOD DAMAGE.

STORM CONDITIONS. A ROUGH EXPERIENCE. [nv telegraph—run press association.] BLENHEIM. March 12. What is described as the most terrific gale for thirty years, was experienced in Cook Strait yesterday. ’Hie Wainui struck a heavy south-easterly gale and heavy seas, and after battling against these conditions for an hour, the captain decided to turn hack. It was a ticklish manoeuvre, the vessel being nearly on its beams end. On the return .she heal round Brothers and made the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. The trip was abandoned. the passengers returning to their homes.

The Tiitanekai also put into I’ietou, and th" M’airan is sheltering at Port Underwood. The Nelson-Blenheim mail cars are held up as Caiivaslown Road is five feet, under water. T.\ lIIA PE REPORT. TA FH APE. March 12. A heavy downpour of rain Occurred ill Taihape Main Trunk district yesterday, two and a-half inches falling in six hours. Small slips on the railway between Taihape and Matnroa did not seriously delay traffic. Nevertheless. the trains left Taihape much Ixthind schedule time. The I p.m. train for the north did not leave till late in the afternoon. The north express left twenty minutes late and passengers were informed they could not go beyond Taihape. Many hooked a night’s accomodation at local hotels, and they were later advised the train could get through and the hotel arrangements were cancelled. It was held at Mataroa till advice came from Ohakune that they might safely proceed.

Unofficially, it is learned that the fears were caused hv Karioi station yard being two feet under water, which has now probably subsided as the trains are running to time table.

A ROUGH TIME. NEW PLYMOUTH. March 12. A south-easterly of unprecedented fury raged all night. I lie public hall at West Own in course ol erection quid ready to he roofed, was flattened. Severn plate glass windows m business premises were cracked. Shinning at the breakwater had an uncomfortable time, hut came through safely. The ogle is now moderating, hut no work is possible at the wharf yet. TRAINS HELD UP. HASTINGS. Manh 12. Communications with Napier by rail were interrupted last night soon alter the Wellingto.n-Naph'r express- got through, and the Nnpier-I Listings section is still closed by Hood-waters, which maroon the south hound express in Napier. To maintain the service a train was built lift with available rolling stock at Hastings and despatched to Wellington at tile usual time. The Department hope to resume traffic between Hastings arid Napier this afternoon. Mater is still coming over the road north ol ( Lie. hut a car took the risk and brought, a

few passengers from Napier to connect with the train. iiunica tions uninterrupted every"'her through the Hooded area, and it is impo.-.sible a-' yet to gel details of the damage. Tintelegraph line is al-o down betweenNapier and Hastings. floods receding. 11 FAY Y LOSSES REPORTED. NAPIER. March 12. The Hoods which rose with I right tul rapidity late yesterday afternoon to (he west and s.-Uth->••>! Nani-r commenced t>. t"mlr -•« about 2 a.m. when an emergency mouth was blown open in the shingle on the beach. Four miles south of Napier a man marooned in a tree was rescued at midnight by a young man on horsehnck. Immune* ol 'stock Jitv ropoitcul Imt no fatalities are reported south ol Napier. The main road to Hastings is now open, hut the railway is dosed. A wa'linnl mi the railway fifteen chains long i- being repaired, hut it is Relieved a big bridge at Wlmkatu is buckled and unsafe I" 1 ' traffic. Taradale wa- inundated with two toot ol water, the Tutaekuri river breaking it's hank' outside the township. The peli u road on this route to the south i-- closed to all traffic. There are seven feet of water in the low-lying parts and many families have moved to friends' houses.

All telegraphic communication ■oil lh wa I'd is cut oil' by the poles fall-

The floods in the northern district are more serious. Three houses are reported to have been washed away from the Taligoio Valley. 'I he river is more or less blocked " ith furniture, dead stock and debris. Ihe road, to Mairoa is hopelessly blocked and cannot he cleared under a fortnight, some washouts being serious and extensive. Two ear load,- of passengers were marooned, hut were rescued by settlers who afforded them accommodation. A hut at the public work's camp at M'aipiuiage was washed away and a man, Thomas Hill, went with it and was drowned. His body has not been recovered.

One settler at Omaramii lost seventeen hundred sterling in stud sheep. Other large losses of stock and properly are reported. All nil.'- are down to the north\v;i nl. Xo\vs i* ilillVtilt to procure. The waters are receding rapidly. At 10 a.m. no further danger was anticipated. scow CAP,SIZES. WHANGARKL .March 12. The scow Ngalian, Cnpl. Carev. and crew of four, hound northward from AVha.lKa.-ei- onn-ix.0.l in I.eavy half a mile outside of Wlmngarei Heads last, evening. All hands were rescued by a fishing boat. The mast is showing several leet above the water. Attmpts are being made by pov. cri ill oil launches to beach the vessel which has no cargo aboard. A warning has been issued to shipping as the Ngahau is sulunerged in the lairway. A HEAVY BLOW. TA FRANC A. March 12. Stormy coitditons which have prevailed here for the last few days inraised in violence yesterday, and hist niirht till midnight blew hard from the south-east playing havoc with gardens. trees and fences and driving several luiliiehe. and small traft ashore. No serious damage is reported. Ihc rainfall was comparatively light. FERRY STRIKES HEAVY WEATHER. LATE ARRIVAL”? T.YTTELTON. CHRISTCHURCH. March 12 The arrival of the ferry steamer was delayed till 11.40 owing to the heavy weather.