EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4977, 21 May 1926, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

RIVERS BANK-HIGH. CONSIDERABLE MINOR DAMAGE. Following several days of line, frosty weather .the wind changed round -to a more south-easterly dii ection on. Wednesday, but there was little rain- Early yesterday morning the wind veered to almost due east, and increased in velocity as the day wore on. Torrential showers ot rain prevailed intermittently throughout the day, and from 5 p.m. last evening until an early hour this morning exceptionally heavy rain fell, ,and the wind increased to almost barricade force. This morning the rain had ceased, but a stiff easterly wind still prevails. From reports to hand it appears that considerable minor damage has been done. During the gale last, night trees were uprated, several windows Were blown in, and havoc was wrought, in the gardens. On Puke Roa,d, a large shed on Mr B. Coldicutt’s. property was blown over a hawthorn hedge on to the roadside. A pole carrying electric power lines was blown partly over in Dearie Street, bitt it did not cause a break in the connection. Owing to a low tensiion fuse blowing out ,a.t the transformer near the Public W&rks office electricity was cut off in the borough for about 20 •minutes soon after '5 o’clock last night. The local office of the Thames Valley Power Board stated this morning that so far no serious damage had been reported concerning the rower lines. The Ohinemuri River is running almost bank-high, it rose four feet at the Criterion bridge in one hour last night. The water reached 27 feet on the gauge, which is within a root of the flood record in, April of 1924. At nine o’clock this morning the water had receded to the. 25ft mark a,t the Criterion bridge, and was steadily receding.

Before 8 o’clock last night Waihi Road from near Barrett’s property to a point near the entrance to St. Mary’s Church was a. sheet of rushing water.

‘ Again the houses on the southern side of the ro.ad suffered considerable damage, and were completely isolated this morning. A family named Davis, occupying the house owned by Mrs Coote, were surrounded\this morning, a pitiful aspect being that there is a young baby in the house, and no milk could be got into the home owipg to the depth of the water. It is not known yet whether the water actually reached the interior of the residences or not, as it has not. been possible to reach the houses.' "■ - ; A horse-waggon which left Paeroa for Waihi this morning was unable to get through owing to the floodwater on the road. All the low-lying portions of the 'burot/gh were inundated with stormwa.ter this morning, but no serious damage has been reported, and the water is quickly receding. At the Waihi end of the railway tunnel at Kayangahake it is reported that the Ohinemuri River rpse within four inches df the mouth of the tunnel, during the night. The railway station reports th A several washouts on the line have occurred near Pui'iri, and ap a cons,equence the running of trains on that line is slightly disorganised. The Paeroa-W,aihi being maintained. ' ' ; 1 '

PLIGHT OF NETHERTiON. From reports to hand it would appear that the settlers at Netherton have again suffered heavily by reason of the Waihou River overflowing its banks. , It is understood ,tha.t the Awaiti district is under water, and several families have left their residences. No reliable information can be obtained as to the loss of stock. The Fanners’ Union 'Trading Co.’s store at Netherton. is surrounded by water, a,nd the properties of Messrs J. A. Reid, S. J. Laughlin, E. A. Chester, and others are reported to be .inundated, and the water - is still rising.

AT THE PUKE. Considerable damage; has been done at the puke. Despite warnings from the local agent of the Northern Steam Ship Co. (Mr J. W. Silcock), several consignees failed to remove goods from the Ngahina wharf shed, and as a result the greater portion of the goods is ruined by flood-water. In conversation with Mr Silcock this morning it was learned that when he visited the wharf at 11 o’clock last night everything w.as apparently .quite safe. At daylight this morning, on going out he was amazed to find the whole area a swirling mass of water. By means of a launch he managed to reach the wharf safely, only toffind that there was over three feet of water in the wharf shed, the river having risen higher than it has been previously known at Ngahina. About 10 tons of cement, a quantity of chaff and general merchandise, and five cases of benzine are among the goods that are either missing or are spoiled.