THAMES ISOLATED.

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

THAMES ISOLATED.

LARGE AREA SUBMERGED. RESIDENTIAL AREA FLOODED. THAMES, Saturday. Thames is completely isolated from the south in consequence of a heavy easterly gale which raged last night. The Kauaeranga River rose quickly, overflowed its banks, and ran into the residential area at Parawai, attaining a height not previously expel ienced. At high tide (5 a.m.) the storm water isolated houses in a large area. Either a metal pnnt. which had broken away, or kauri logs fouled the main traffic bridge, which, being old, was unable to stand the strain and broke in the. middle span. The punt afterwards broke in half one of the piles of the new traffic bridge. Part of the punt is still wedged .on the railway bridge, which Ihc weight of water is menacing. No trains have arrived or departed ■to-day. Two valuable punts belonging to Mr Kerby, owner of the ferry service to the Hauraki Plains, were washed out to sea and sunk. Two fishing launches suffered the .same fate, Even when the tide was out the storm water was still covering a iaige area of I’arawai, the racecourse being submerged. There is evidence of heavy rain inland. Other points of Thames have not suffered, proving tlie efficacy of the new flood prevention works. A gale is still raging, accompanied by heavy rain. Tlie full extent of the damage to public works is not yet ‘ascertainable. The opinion is expressed that if the new groynes recently erected at Parawai had not been there the river would have forced a new course right through the town.