ABNORMAL RAINFALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4845, 26 June 1925, Page 2

ABNORMAL RAINFALL

LAND INUNDATED ON PLAINS.

LIKELIHOOD OF FLOOD. A transformation scene has taken place on the Plains this week. On Monday the, land was dry, the drains empty, and the river unusually low. As was predicted by the Government meteorologist, by those observant scttlens who hud noticed the increased flow of their artesian bores, and by drainers who had noticed the sudden drop in the quantity of water draining out of the peat land, abnormally heavy rain commenced to fall on Wednesday, and rain has fallenn practically continuously since. For the 24 hours up till 8 a.m. yesterday morning 2.3 inches were recorded at the Lauds Department s office at Kerepeehi, and 1.7 inches at the Ngatea school. At low tide this morning the Piako River at Ngatea was about four feet above normal level, and at high tide was within two’ inches c-f the highest flood mark.

The fact that the tides are falling, as spring tide was on Wednesday, is a favourable circumstance, for although the high tide is higher, it ebbs farther than a neap tide, and thus gives the drains a greater draw. The westerly gale is also a favourable circumstance, as it does not increase the height of the river as does a wind irom the north. The. district was in a much better state to deal with a heavy downpour than it has been for many winters, but the exceptionally heavy rain quickly caused all low-lying podbions to become miniature lakes and the drains to become ragnig torrents. Outlets are in good order, and they are functioning well, so that little damage is expected unless the rivers rise to such an extent, as to cause the flood-gates to cease acting, as was the case in many places- during previous floods.

The necessity of an additional outlet to relieve the Orchard East RoadKercpeclri area, as has been decided upon by the Horahia Drainage Beard, has been amply demonstrated. While in most other parts of the district surface water rs draining avtay almost as quickly as it falls, on the farms from Parry’s Corner towards Ngatea the roadside di'ain is overflowing and Water from the back c&untry is inundating whole paddocks. The parsimony of the drainage board in not retaining the services of the bridgekeeper to keep the flood-gates clear is now having its effect. WARNING FROM -MOR RINS VILLE. PIAKO BFT. ABOVE NORMAL. At 5.30 p.m. yesterday telegrams were received at the various telegraph offices on the Plains from Morrinsville giving warning bf possible floods, as the Piako River was then Bft above normal height and was still rising. It was then still raining, continuously at Morrinsivlle. BRIDGES THREATENED. RAPID RISE AT WAITAKARURU. The county surfaceman- at Waitakaruru reports that the streams from the hills rose with amazing rapidity. Yesterday the water reached the level of the new bridge over the Waitakaruru. stream on Pokeno Road, and was flowing over the newly made approaches' The bridge on the lower road to Mangatarata was also threatened, and the upper road was covered saddlehigh at Coxhead’s Gully. Farm lands near Boom Road to Haley’s Corner were inundated to a depth reported to be two feet. This morning the rain has ceased, and the is getting away as quickly as it accumulates.