EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4999, 12 July 1926, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY RAIN. LOW-LYING AREAS INUNDATED. Following on several heavy frosts the weather locally changed on Friday last, when the barometer fell nearly three degrees in 24 hours, Saturday morning dawned fine, though cloudy, and a, stiff nor’-easterly wind prevailed. About 10 o’clock rain commenced to fall, and there were several heavy showers before mid-day. From - that time until about 3 p.m, there was a spell of fine Weather, followed by torrential rain and an increase of wind which had swung round to due east. As night wore on the conditions became worse, the storm at times assuming almbet hurricane force. "

Daylight yesterday saw.ho change in the weather; in fact, conditions became worse, and a strong wind and heavy rain prevailed , incessantly throughout yesterday and last night. During yesterday many fo the Public -JVorks Department’s staff spent an'arduous day in the vicinity of the Puke The department’s launches Were requisitioned, and a busy, time was spent in securing all movable material and placing extra mooring lines on dredges and barges in anticipation of a flood. •

By nightfall yesterday all the. lowlying areas in the borough were inundated with storm-water. There was a sheet of water from the junction of Russell Sreet with Normanby Road to a point near where Thorp Street, intercepts. Normanby Road from neay. the “Economic” to MiGamble’s shop represented a lake, and the Commercial Hotel, was surrounded with storm-water.

Adding to the discomfort was the absence of lighting in streets and homes owing to the failure of the power supply. , . \ • The rainfall, as measured on the gauge'at the local office of the Public W6rks Department, from midnight on Saturday ..till 8 o’clock this morning, totalled 7-3 inches. This is- almost a record'fall for so short a period. The wind during the same period varied considerably, and prevailed from the north-east, ; east,: and “south-east. 1 During last night the wind moderated considerably, and early this morning conditions had improved.

, Heavy rain, is still falling a.t interWais, and -the barometer \is falling slightly lower; .

: A surprising feature of the storm is that the Ohinemuri River igl,not in greater flood; .At six o’clock this morning the gauge at the Criterion. Bridge registered only l l6ft 6in, which is liot at all high, considering .the rain that has fallen. ' ’

At the Puke no damage has been reported, and the river wa : s some distance from the level, of,.the Ngahina wharf.. The Waihou River is rising, and the rivers are.in bigger flood below the Puke than at Paeroa. The Stearher' .Taniwha,- which left- Auckland'a;t midnight last night, reached the Puke safely at- 16 o’clock -.this morning after a, very fair passage.

POWER INTERRUPTIONS. / !

"Considerable inconvenience has been caused through electric power interruptions. The' chief, cause of the- stoppage, has been a breakdown on the Public Works Department's line between Horahora 'and-Waikino-. A's scon a,s this became known a.li-m--ited supply was. obtained the Grand Junction mine ,a ; t Wdihi.' < This supply obtained until 9.30' this" morning, when a’’steady siipply from McFalls, was- switched on. ■ ■ ‘ ;.

The Thames Valley Power Board’s local staff has spent a/ very trying time since the storm commenced. Power lines tame ■ down br were otherwise thrown out of action at Fisher’s. Roa.d and' Pekapeka Road, and trees fell across the lines dn Thames Road. In addition' there has been a defect at the Criterion transformer, and a bre'a.k. in one of, the lines in the Hill Street are’a. With reasonable .luck it is expected .that the'full‘service will be restored this afternoon. . .

The Public Works Department's officials at Wajkino stated this morning that they were not in a position 'to state anything, concerning the breakdown, between , Waikinb and • Horahora. • TELEPHONE INTERRUPTION. In ’an interview with the ' local postmaster (Mr W\ ; E. ...Ward) this morning it was learned that the local telephone exchange; was working satisfactorily with Thajnes/ Waihi, Te Aroh a, Ngatea,, ’ and Turua.. There Was no telephonic or telegraphic communication south Of Te Arolia, and oil!' communication . with Auckland was cut off- An endea,vour was being made to restore all services by this afternoon. ' ' . The railway service's ai'e being maintained satisfactorily;

• GALE: ON THE PLAINS. WEEK-END. HURRICANE.. EXTENT OF DAMAGE. A severe hurricane - rage'd on the Hauraki Plains during the and much damage wa,s caused. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, sheds and fences were levelled, and telephone and electric^poxver poles ,were blown ov«r. Many/ wires were broken by falling trees or flying branches, a ; nd it was possibly fortunate that the power was off at the time. At Turua the full (force of the gale was felt, and the end of the corrugated iron shed on the wharf was bent inwards. The pontoon of. the, floating.landing stage broke from, its moorings, and the small she’d on the wharf in which the mail for the night steamer is placed. -was blown into the rivef. A mailbag for the Taniwha .was in the shed t|t the time and wes - recovered this momingt, as also was the shed. The pontoon was imprisoned by the, piles recently placed to block the; berthage, and it I s apparently undamaged. ' -