FLOODS IN THE NORTH

Southland Times, Issue 18843, 8 June 1920, Page 6

FLOODS IN THE NORTH

TE KUITI ISOLATED. MAIN TRUNK LINE BLOCKED. i (Per Uuited Press Association.) | TE KUITI, June 7. j Heavy Hoods occurred on Saturday night, j Hie river through the town overflowed, a large area being inundated. Slips on the i main roads isolated the town, but are being I cleared. i The express got through on Sunday night, I but a sudden rise of water early on Monday j morning blocked early trains. Minor slips Ito the couth have been removed. Damage j was done in shops by flood water. The ; Hood is receding, but the sky is overcast. I It was repor.od at midday that there was still two or three feet of water over the line north but all is clear south. The express from the south will leave on the return this evening if no train from the north gets through. TE KUITI FLOODED. MAIN TRUNK EXPRESS HELD UP. PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIAL DROWNED. TE KUITI, June 7. Torrential rain on Saturday night flooded Te Kuiti. The water invade;! several shops, the damage being fairly heavy. The town was isolated by slips on the main roads. Gangs are at work clearing them. On Sunday the express from the north got through, hut on Monday morning the water rose rapidly, and the line between Rangitaiki and Otorohanga was covered to a depth of three feet. The express from the south stopped here. A fatality is reported at Honikiri. Mr E. L. A. Uunekley. Public Works overseer, wa= swept, old his horse and drowned. The body has not been found. Several bridges have gone in the country, and tiiere were numerous slips and other damage. The weather cleared to-day. it is hoped to get the trains through to-morrow. SLIPS ON THE RAILWAY. AUCKLAND, Juno 7. Heavy rain caused landslips on the Main Trim!; railway, particularly between Te AwiumtUi and Otorohanga. The express trains to-day did not run beyond Frankton and Te Awamutu. There are also slips on the Rotorua and Thames lines, WANGANUI AND ONGARUK IN FLOOD RIVERS PHENOMENALLY HIGH. TAUMARUNUI, June 7. On Saturday and Sunday heavy rain caused the highest Hoods in the Wanganui and Ongarue rivers for four years. Both rivers are hank to hank. There has been a Fair amount of erosion but nothing serious. The new traffic bridge and protection works on the Wanganui river stood the test well. At the boat landing t lie Ongarue was nine fee! above ordinary Wider mark and it is doubtful if the river-boat will go down to-day. It is reported there is 26 feet of extra water at the houseboat. She is now anchored over the flowerbeds. HEAVY RAIN AT TAURANGA. WATER AND ELECTRICITY CUT OFF. TAURANGA, June 7. The easterly gale which commenced with a heavy downpour on Thursday evening siient itself last evening, 111 inches of rain being recorded during that period. Both the electricity and wafer supply were cut off yesterday. The former was restored this morning, but the water is uncertain. Ail the rivers in the district were heavily flooded, but no serious damage is reported. Several washouts occurred on the railway line between here and Matata and the regular service will probably lie suspended for some days. DOWNPOUR AT ROTORUA. ROTORUA, June 7. In the 48 hours ending at 9 o'clock this morning 9.11 inches of rain fell. The Kltukina stream rose ten feet, and the water en'ered a few houses on tile banks, but did no serious damage. It subsided quickly when the rain slackened. The weather is now tine. The Auckland express- loft about 1 o'clock this afternoon, and the inward express is expected to arrive at 9 o'clock. The washout at Mamaku has beau temporarily repaired. At tHe washout at Putaruru the p.weengers had to he transferred to another train.