PHENOMENAL RAIN.

Shannon News, 2 March 1923, Page 3

PHENOMENAL RAIN.

ITS EFFECTS AT MANGAHAO

idea of the difficulties with which the Government is laced at Mangahao may be gained frofn a perusal of the rainfall records. During 1922 .the rainfall was approximately 80 inches. This rainfall was not confined to any particular season, but was fairly well distributed over the year, and as a matter of fact there were actually more wet days than there were fine days. In some months there were even as many as 24 days on ’which rain fell. Naturally the staff, and workmen are becoming-to some extent amphibious, but in spite of every effort a great many days' work are actually lost, through inability to carry off outside operations. It does not appear that 1923 is going to be even as favourable as 1922, lor already there have been two disastrous floods, the first of which destroyed the’ whole result of three months’ work of a large number oi of men in connection with the temporary diversion of the Mangahao River. This flood rose to a height of 18 feet. There has now been a second flood of the unprecedented height of 20 feet. Fortunately, not much has yet been done t'o restore the damage of the 18ft flood, and consequently not a great deal was lost.

While these Hoods delay the work a tub may cause disppointinent as to the date)of completion, they have still a favourable side. As in every hydraulic installation, an ample supply of water is one of the indispensable.? for a successful development, and the flow that has been observed in the river, and the excessive rainfalls which have been recorded, augur well for the abundance of future power supply.