SUDDEN DELUGE FLOODS KAITAIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 1

SUDDEN DELUGE FLOODS KAITAIA

NORTH ISOLATED BUSINESS AREA INUNDATED (From Our Own Correspondent) KAITAIA, To-day. Phenomenal rainfall in the Kaitaia district yesterday caused the biggest flood ever experienced in the North, inches of rain falling in 24 hours. The Awanui river rose very quickly, and the town was flooded. There was 20 inches of water in Dr. Rix’s house, and 15 inches in the Council Chambers, i The machine-room of the Xorthlander . newspaper was also flooded and shops and offices occupied by Archibald and Sons, Cammish and Co., and Xobles, Ltd., suffered similarly. The Lake Road was completely submerged, and the Victoria Valley Bridge was swept away. There is a slip on the main road at Fairburns Court. A temporary isolation of the Xorth has taken place; all traffic including mail services having stopped. Owing to the excellent work done by the Drainage Department in connection with the Kaitaia swamp scheme, the water got away from the township very quickly. The highest flood occurred at 4 a.m. and the town was quite clear again by 9 a.m. There is considerable loss of sheep and cattle, and damage to fences in the low-lying districts. An effort is being made to negotiate the mails over the slips. AUCKLAND DOWNPOUR NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN GREATEST FALL SINCE 1924 The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours since May 25, 1924, when 3.60 in fell, was recorded for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. this morning. The official observer, Mr. H. M. Vincent’s gauge read 3.1 Oin.

The average fall for the whole of May is 4.55 in. Records kept for 44 years show that the wettest May was in 1924, when 10.63 in came down. For the second time in succession Auckland has experienced a stormy week-end. Toward evening yesterday the wind began to blow strongly from the north-east with the accompaniment of rain. From midnight to 4 a.m. the blow increased to almost the force of a gale, with torrential rain.