NORTHERN FLOODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1924, Page 1

NORTHERN FLOODS.

PUHOI DAAfAGE £25,000

tBV TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, April o. Reports from Puhoi state that the bridge over the river Puhoi lias been washed away. The main bridges from Puhoi to Ahaura have been destroyed. Hie main bridge from Puhoi to upper Waiwera has also been washed away. There are landslips everywhere. Half of the grass sown on the lands has been laid waste.

The Puhoi wharf and goods sheds have been demolished. There was five feet of water in the Post Office behind the store yesterday. The water has since fallen to normal. The damage there is estimated at twenty-five thousand pounds. ENORMOUS DELUGE. AUCKLAND, March 6; The heaviest rainfall of Thursday’s deluge occurred in an area of about BCOO acres, extending from Silverdale to just beyond Puhoi, and extending back to the neighbourhood of tho North Auckland main trunk railway through the Kaipara districts. This area includes the watersheds of the Wade, Waimera, and Puhoi rivers, which flow through sheep country in a somewhat narrow gorge. The greatest havoc to pastures was caused on the Wainui, a tributary of the Waiwera, and the country between that and 1 the Kaipara. By observation but without official rain gauges, it is estimated that the rainla II in the AVainui district in about seven hours of the height of tho ilood amounted to more than 15 inches.

All through the area indicated, every Hill is excoriated with slips amounting in total to over a thousand acres. Every important bridge has been swept away, and in every valley the roads are blocked by slips. Dairy farming there is the universal industry, and for a great extent of country the settlers are unable to gei their cream to the dairy factories and there seems no prsopect of an early arrangement to enable it to he done.

Two families in tho Upper AVniwera district, that of Air Rex Howell on the Wainui, and Airs Meale on the AVaiwera, whose houses are near the watorbank only escaped at the critical stage when there was several feet of water around their dwelling, and it was almost necessary to swim.

Two roadmen working in the same district, named Eigleson and Newman, had to swim for their lives from their residence.

l’ulioi townshipi, the centre of the old Bohemia Settlement, near the East Const about 30 miles north of Auckland, has suffered most severely. The river rose rapidly at one period, to an extent of ]7 feet in 40 minutes and flooded the township. Tile new wharf store was swept away, containing about £SOO worth of goods just landed. 'Hie public library was washed out with about £2OO worth of new books. About 100,000 feet of bulk and sawn timber was carried out to sea.

More serious for the province, a lrawbridgo in the course rf construcioii on tile north road close to the ownsiiip was destroyed and will block he main line of motor traffic for uonths.

Courageous acts were pierforined within n few minutes by a young man named Victor Sc-hisskii, in swimming three times through tho torrent to rescue from drowning the postmaster named Scholl uni, and James Titforil senior, and Jas Titfoid junr., who had lingered in business premises until th’cro was over 7 feet of water on their floors. Altogether it is estimated that the damage in Puhoi township readies to between £25,000 and £30,000.

FLOOD AT TALMA 151'NUT. TA niARTNL'I, Anvil 5. This morning Tauuuirunui and district experienced the heaviest Hood of iu liisLovv. Tor;ontiai vain fell all night and early this morning the Wanganui River commenced to vise vapidly. The cuvvent was cut off from the eieetvie works at Kiiiaka at 7.30 when the water was within two feet of the power house. No damage lias been done to the plant, which has stood the unprecedented flood excellently. At about 9.30 o’clock the river began to rise alarmingly, and it reached within a foot of the power house. The water also rose quickly in the low lying areas of Taninarnnui. By ten o’clockmore than half the recreation ground wa's covered with a sheet ol water, and houses on the flat and at Matapuna were surrounded.

Several slips and wash-outs have taken place on the railway line between Taninarnnui and Ohakune. Four goods trains are hold up along the line. The usual 7 a.m. train leaving Taumarunni for southern stations, did not depart at 10.30 a.m. So far no slips are reported north of Taninarnnui. Reports from Kakalii state that the Wanganui and the Whakapara rivers are making a gigantic volume of water and there are losses of stock.

A bridge at Kikalii, the property of Watkins Brothers, sawmillers, was washed away, and the loss is estimated at £2,000. Other smaller bridges have also disappeared in the Hood waters. The Wanganui has risen nine feet above, the normal bridge connecting Winters Island with the mainland at Taumarunni. It stood the strain until Ten o’clock, when it was washed away. The rain ceased about 9.30 this morning, and the flood has now reached its highest point, and is expected to recede soon. FLOOD AT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, April 0. Rain has fallen steadily with few intermissions during the week-end. The river is in high flood, but no damage of moment, beyond a small slip, is reported. A CLOUDBURST. AUCKLAND, April C. Reports from the country indicate the severity of the floods. The “Herald’s” Whitianga correspondent says: “It would appear that a eloudbuist struck the Coromandel Range on the Mercury Bay side, and sent large bodies of water down tlie various streams. A number of bridges were swept away. Several settlers lost stock. The rain has continued at Helensville and a breakdown gang is doing good work in clearing the obstructions under difficult conditions. Waimauku is flooded and ram is still falling there. One bee-keeper had an apiary of sixty hives washed away.

Floods at dargaville

FARMER. LOSES LIFE. DARGAVILLK, April 5. Tin* town has been cut off from touch with the outside world for two days, telegraphic communication being only restored late last night. The heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday caused heavy floods in many parts of the district, flood water anil slips rendering tile road to Whaugarei impassable. The flood was the highest since Lhc UJI7 record. There is no loss of stock, «but the damage to roads and fences is considerable. A farinr named John G. Kerr, married, was drowned between Tokatnka and Reliia on Thursday night when attempting to cross a flooded creek.