EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4700, 19 May 1924, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

HIGH WIND AND FLOODS. DAMAGE DONE TO ROADS. Probably one of the heaviest easterly gales over experienced in Paeroa occurred on Friday and Saturday. On Friday morning the weather conditions looked ominous, and before midday the barometer was registering 29 9 degrees, and a stiff easterly wind was blowing. Shortly after 2 p.m. torrential rain fell and the wind increased in fury, and thus the storm raged all night.

The dawn of Saturday found little relief, and, if anything, the gale was raging more furiously than ever. By that time the whole of the low-lying po'lions of the town and its environs were under water in varying depths up to several feet. By ten a.m. the barometer had fallen a further two degrees, and people were becoming alarmed as the storm water rose in the town.

Tire Waihi road from Miss Dawber’s residence to beyond the intersection of Russell Street was under water, and pedestrians iiad to wade through to get to business. On reaching the Junction of Arney Street with Normanby Road a lake presented itself, extending from Mr Walls' to beyond the Commercial Hotel and up as far as Mr Corringhani’s shop. One? through this water safely, it was possib'c to walk as far as the new block of buildings in course of erection in Belmont Road. From this point to the higher ground near the railway station was a sheet of water up to eighteen inches deep in some places. Al- the low-lying land from Puke Road across to the hills was under water, including portion of Rye Lane and Station Road.

By mid-day on Saturday the storm was at its worst, and the storm water rapidly collected in volume and depth. A portion of Thames Road from a point near the site of the racing stables to the intersection of Bennett Street was practically covered with water, as also was Normanby Road near Robson’s store along the Wsihi road.

The Post and Telegraph Department’s staff had an anxious and trying experience. Telegraphic communication between Paeroa and Thames, Waihi, Hamilton, and Auckland was cut off owing to trees falling oil the line, or other interferences, and no telegrams were accepted at the local office for Hamilton or Auckland until the evening, when communication was partially restored. The Power Board’s .staff was also beset with many difficulties. During the height of the gale on Friday a fault in the supply lines between Horahora and Waikino left Paeroa only partly lighted, and several shopkeepers closdc their preißises at an early hour as a consequence. On Saturday the Kauaeranga River traffic bridge at Parawai was carried away by the flood in that river, and this fact caused a further interruption in the supply lines in Paeroa. A leak also made itself manifest in the Woo-1 Street circuit, and it was not till yesterday afternoon that the fault was discovered and rectified. By i pan. on Saturday the Ohinemuri River was running bank-high, but fortunately it commenced to recede before the tide turned. Messrs Cottpcr and Vincent, who suffered heavily in the flood last month, deemed it advisable to abandon their homes on the Waihi road on Saturday afternoon, but although the rivetrose to within a few feet of their residences mo serious damage resulted.

During the afternoon the storm water entered the business premises of Messrs Wallace and Co., J. P. Gamble. and Mrs Pascoe, but before any extensive damage was done Mr Gamble. who happened to be on the premises at the time, quickly summed up the situation and by means of an iron bar broke the thin edging of asphalt from the front of the premises and allowed tlie water to escape by running under the buildings and out into the drain in Willoughby Street. Had it not been for the prompt action by Mr Gamble .some damage to stocks would have resulted.

Towards the evening the weather cleared a little, and the wind ’abated somewhat, and only a few intermittent showers fell during the night. Yesterday the, weather was fine locally, and the wind changed to i westerly direction. The storm water is subsiding rapidly. and the town is assuming its normal appearance. Local resident® affirm that it is many years since .such a storm has been experienced, with so much local storm water abounding in the streets and other low lying country. It is understood that despite Friday night’s and Satin’;days’ unpleasant experience no seriOSU damage has taken place. Residents in Station Road and other parts of the borough spent an anxious time, but that water entered their homes lacks confirmation as yet. The taxis have been in great demand since mid-day on Friday, and although the drivers may have reaped a small harvest they worked long hours and took many risks when conveving people through the flooded areas. One of the local taxi-drivers ha« reason to believe that he born under a “lucky star. It appears that he was driving cautiously along Rye Lane on Saturday afternoon when the flood wa.s at ds height, and his passenger was no less a personage than one of our City Father®. A little more than halfway along R>c Lane there is a bridge spanning the large outfall drain, which on Saturday was a raging torrent. Just as the front wheels of the car touched the edge of the decking of the bridge the whole structure moved forward, and, being caught by the current, was slewed sideways. The ear was fortunately travelling slowly, and the driver just had time to throw the engine into reverse gear and move out of harm’s way. Had he proceeded a few inches further forward a serious accident would inevitably have resulted, as the drain at that point is some Bft deep. Minor damage reported so far eom-

prises broken window panes, uprooted trees, ropf-iron loosened, a small outbnilding demolished, and. an iron chimney razed. Considerable havoc has also been caused to gardens and fences, and there are many instances of small shrubs and hedge plants having be whipped out of the ground and carried some distance by the wind. AT THE PUKE. The Northern S.S. Co.’s officials spent an anxious time on Friday night, but it was not until after midday on Saturday that the river rose to any appreciable extent. During the afternoon the flood water entered the sheds to a depth of 15 io 18 inches. The flood was anticipated, however, and all the cargo was stacked high above flood level and nothing was damaged. During the height of the gale the s.s. Waimaric, which is anchored in the Ohinemuri River above the Puke wharf, dragged her moorings and swung round on to the opposite bank, but no damage was done. The, s.s. Taniwha, which was to have left Auckland yesterday, did not sail on account of the storm. The auxiliary vessel Puhoe reached the Puke safely yesterday afternoon aft“r a trying journey from Auckland. This vessel brought a full cargo of general merchandise. DAMAGE TO ROADS. As was to be expected, the country roads have suffered severely, information to hand shows that the Paeroa-Waihi road has been seriously affected. At Docherty’s Creek a slip has occurred. There was a serious wash-out at the site of Armour's bridge at Owharoa extending for about 38ft and to a. depth of some 13fAt the bottom of the stream lies a motor-car belonging to Mr C. Bur-t. of Waihi. It appears that Mr Burt was travelling along the road on Saturday afternoon, and when near the bridge his car suddenly dropped out of site. Fortunately, Mr Burt was alone at the time, and was able to get out of the flooded stream safely and little the worse for bis experience. The car has not yet been extricated. The county engineer, Mr E. Shaw, has a large gang of men on to-day repairing the damage at the various locations, but it is expected that it will be fully three days before through tiaffic can be restored. The temporary traffic bridge over the Waitete stream which was cip'ried away in the flood last month has withstood the strain, although on Satj unlay flood water to a depth of four I feet flowed over it. There are no reports to hand yet regarding the condition of the roads in tne Komata, but it is expected that considerable damage has been done. THE RAILWAY SERVICE Consequent on several slips on the Paeroa-Waihi line-on Saturday the regular train service was temporarily suspended. On the Paeroa-Thames section trains were run as far as Kopu only on Saturday owing to the railway bridge over the Kauaeranga River al Thames South being considered unstable through the flood debris collecting against the foundations and throwing the whole structure slightly out of alignment. On inquiries being made, at the local railway station this morning it was learned that the usual time-table on the Paeroa-Thames and PaeroaWaihi sections is being maintained to-day.