THE WEATHER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4685, 9 April 1924, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

CONDITIONS IMPROVING. iVATER STILL LYING ABOUT. The weather on Monday last was exceptionally boisterous, from an easterly quarter. By 5 p.m. the Ohineniuri River was again running bank high, but although it did not reach th” hood level of Thursday last some concern was felt for the safety of the town up to midnight, when the tide w’< full, but before that hour the w-'ler bud commenced to recede and all danger was averted. The Criterion bridge stood the strain remarkably veil. Little damage was reported. Yesterday morning the weather cleared, and a good south-westerly wind prevailed, assisting malctiallj in drying up the soaked areas. 'hiring the height of. the flood on Thursday last the property of Mr A. Co' hc; (1. off the Old Te Arolia Road, Paeroa, suffered considerable damage, and water entered his residence to the depth of several inches. It appears that a gap had been left in the stop-bank near his residence, and th'-ough this the flood water pour?d at a terrific rate, completely isolating the homestead for some time. The farms of Messrs M. McLeod, W. Chamberlain, and Haora Tareanui, in the vicinity of Pereniki Bend, were considerably damaged by flood water. Although the flood did not actually enter the houses, they were surroimled by deep water, and the occupants passed a very anxious time. Now that the flood water has receded a scene of devastation remains. The pastures and root crops in this area,have been seriously damaged by the deposit of cyanide silt. It is understood that Mr Chamberlain in particular is a heavy loser, and it is thought that it w : JI now be impossible for him to winter stock on his property owing to the depredations by the flood water. The Paeroa-Waihi railway service lias not yet been resumed owing to a serious slip on the line in the vicinity of Messrs Hume and Joughin’s metal quarry A large gang of men is at work on the slip, and it is hoped to be able to restore the through railway service some time to-morrow. The road to Waihi has also bee.i blocked owing to damage to the Waitete bridge. The Ohinemuri County Council officials have the situation well in hand, and it is expected that necessary repairs to the bridge will be effected by this evening. The river steamer Waipil, which Is at present engaged on the AucklandPaeroa run, had an unenviable experience m Monday. She managed to negotiate the river safely as far as Netherton, where she was bet tiled and the passengers disembarked and completed the journey to Paeroa by motor car. Yesterday afternoon the flood had subsided sufficiently to allow her to proceed to Paeroa and berth at the Ngahina wharf. By late afternoon a start was made to unload the cargo, and the steamer left on the return trip to Auckland at 8 o’clock this morning. There is still a large volume of water lying about on the lower levels, but the river Is subsiding rapidly.