FLOOD REPORTS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1926, Page 3

FLOOD REPORTS

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PH ESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAND, Alay 21. As far as the city is concerned, the damage by the phenomenal rain lias been chiefly caused by minor slips. The playing areas have been affected, and Carlaw Park will not lie fit for League football to-morrow. The roads in the Waitemata County have sustained extensive damage, and small bridges have been washed away. The bridge spanning Swanson stream is among the number. The Waikato river at Alerter has been rising steadily all day. ’Hie countryside- bordering tlie northern railway has suffered severely, and train traffic lias been disorganised. AVasbouts are frequent. Passengers on the Auckland—Helensville train, and Whangayei—Auckland express had to spend the night in the train. They received wonderful hospitality from the residents in the vicinity of the spot where the hold-up occurred; while the railway staffs did

yeoman service. Bain lias now ceased. SUBURBS FLOODED. AUCKLAND, Alay 21, Throughout the day Auckland has been under a downpour, which except for an occasional lull, showed no signs of abating; while alarming reports were coming in from country districts regarding the flooded areas. Some portions of the suburbs were being transformed into miniature lakes. In some eases, the yards and gardens of the houses in low-lying areas were completely submerged, and in others, the water entered the homes. In Queen Street, the gutters ran continually with swirling streams of wafer, which, at times, became abnormally large. As the tram cars go up and down the streets, great streams of water are shot from the linos by the wheels and woe betide the pedestrian who is not nimble enough to reach the pavement before a vehicle gets near him. To ascertain the extent of tho damage to the city watermains a visit of inspection was made by Air J. Tyler, Assistant Engineer, who is in charge of the emergency work at Waitakere. Air Tyler reported that seven slips of varying sizes had occurred, four or them being of a rather serious nature, and two affecting the pipe line. Seven pipes of 20 inches diameter each, were completely carried away. Luckily there were sufficient pipes on the spot to carry out the necessary repairs. There was a landslide of about 200 tons or earth on tlie flat land on tlie wayside of the small AVaitakere tunnel, extending for about 100 yards. Every effort was being made to affect repairs as quickly as possible. At a special meeting of the Council this morning, the position was fully considered, and after reviewing the organisation which was set up yestherda.v, tho Council expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied that everything possible was being done to meet any emergency. The organisation has made provision for a continuous supply of water to all public and private hospitals in the city, and also to tho public in cases where water is noi available through the ordinary sources. Over 20 tank wagons, each carrying two tanks of about 600 gallons capacity, have been requisitioned to distribute water throughout the affected parts and will continue to do so until TO p.m. Tn addition, arrangements have been made with local bodies to receive their ■ water from the city supply at points where they can distribute it in a similar manner. All the local bodies, the shipping authorities, the power hoard and others that have been approached have most willingly helped the City Council in every way possible to overcome the difficulty. Through unwittingly riding across a. broken culvert on tho Helensville AVaiwera road, William Austin, a farmer. was nearly drowned during last night’s flood. Tlie horse he was riding was carried off its feet, and Austin onlv succeeded in reaching terra finna after an exhausting swim. The lior.se disappeared, but was seen in the neighbourhood to-day.