EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5248, 7 March 1928, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR OF RAIN.

NO DAMAGE REPORTED.

One of the worst easterly gales since July of last year was experienced at Paeroa yesterday, but, fortunately, no damage lias been reported.

Following on heavy rain 'oh Monday night the wind changed to a southeasterly direction early yesterday morning. At that time the rain was comparatively light. As the morning wore on, however, the wind veered round to due east, and torrential rain accompanied it. This condition prevailed until about 10 o’clock last night, when the wind dropped, and with the exception of a few light showers before midnight the weather moderated.

This morning dawned fine, and the wind has changed round to the.west. Something of a record has been established in the. amount of rainfall. From 9 a.m. on Monday until 9’ o’clock this morning 7.96 inches <*f rain was recorded on the gauge at the local office of the Public Works Department. The total rainfall for March is 8.41 inches, which is the ‘heaviest fall for that month since 1923. Before mid-day yesterday the Ghinemuri River was carrying a large volume of water, and at 10 o’clock last night, when it was at its peak, the gauge at the Criterion bridge registered 20ft 6in. This morning at 9 o’clock the river had goqe down Bft 6in, the gauge sinewing ‘l2ft of ■water.

An inspection made of the new traffic bridge this morning showed that the, only damage that had occurred was on the Te Aroha side of the bridge, where the newly constructed .approach had “fretted” slightly by the wash, of the river backed up by the tide last night. The Public Works Department took the precaution of making everything safe, at the Puke yesterday morning, and as a result no damage »r loss of timber, etc., occurred. As a matter of fact, the river did not rise to any appreciable height at the Puke. The Auckland-Paeroa steamer Taniwha, which left Auckland’at 11 o’clock last night, experienced a good passage and reached the Ngahina wharf on time this morning. A small creek just beyond the borough boundary was in high flood yesterday afternoon and overflowed its banks and washed a fair amount of metal off Thames Road. Vehicular traffic was also held up for some hours on both sides of the Kirikiri stream, near Kopu, on l account of the stream overflowing its banks. At a late hour last night, when the tide commenced to recede, several large cars got through, and this rn'otning conditions are almost normal. The stormwater drains in the borough were hard-pushed to cope with the rain water, but as Soon as the rain ceased the drainage system quickly righted itself. The main outfall drain was running to capacity this morning, and the water which accumulated in the lower levels of the borough is now draining away rapidly. The three hohses on the right-hand sicle of Puke Road were surrounded 'by water this morning, but fortunately the water did not enter the houses and was receding at a good rate this morninfe. Gardens received a severe buffeting from the gale, and in numbers of. instances, climbing plants were wrenched from their fastenings, and shrubs were broken and battered. Warm sunshine at intervals was appreciated this morning, and at 10' o’clock the barometer shewed! a rising tendency. The rain has done an enormous amount of good throughout the district, and a spell io ; f warm weather is now erquired to promote growth and give body to pastures, root crops, and gardens .