FLOODS INDICATED

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1933, Page 5

FLOODS INDICATED

DOWNPOUR OF RAIN GISBORNE DROUGHT AT AN END. (Pe Pres» Association — Copyright.) GISBORNE, May 26. In forty-eight hours the 'country in the vicinity of ttisOorne • has ueen transformed from a drought-stricken area into one showing every indication of a nood. For nine weeks, practically no ram Had fallen, and the, pastures in the country and the lawns in Gisborne were knaki-cbloured, reminiscent of midsummer. Early this week the Borough Council prohibited the use of hoses io:* law ns and gardens.

Now, almost a magical, transformation .has taKen place.. Right rain commenced to fall on Wednesday, and it increased to a heavy and- continuous downpour ail the afternoon, and it yoc gives no indication of discontinuance. Four inches have fallen ui the last thirty hours. - .. 1

The Waimata River was to-night twenty ieot aboye normal, reaching the level of the disastrous floods winch occurred in February of last year.. The Waipaoa River was to-night seven feet above normal. i-

A lot of settlers in the back country are very anxious, and are 10 moving their stock to higher lands.. In Mangapapa, a suburb of Gisborne, one foot of water covers the main road, and an adjacent low-lying area At 10.30 p.m, heavy rain was still falling, The north and south roads were reported passable, all cars getting through without trouble. HEAVY RAIN CONTINUES. GISBORNE, May 27. Heavy rain continued during the night, and, though the rivers are running bank to bank there lias been no serious inundation. The. Waipaoa River is still about eight ieet below the top. The hanks are still safeguarding the Poverty Bay flats. A mail truck from Napier failed to get through last night, being held up at Devil’s Elbow. .... 563 POINTS IN 24 HOURS. ! GISBORNE,:|Mny27. The rainfall at Gisborne for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 5.63 inches, establishing a record, beating by .33 points the previous highest registration in 1919, and making af total since Tuesday of 7.20 inches. Communication on the'coast road has been interrupted, and the Tolaga Bay Gorge is blocked. If '■