FLOOD BARS WAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 354, 15 May 1928, Page 12

FLOOD BARS WAY

MR. COATES ABANDONS MOTOR-TRIP

DOWNPOUR IN THE NORTH

(From Our Own Correspondent) HELENSVILLE, To-day. The Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates), who was accompanied by Mrs. Coates and their two daughters, and Mr. F. D. Thomson (permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department), were forced to abandon their motor-car journey to Helensville. At Waimauku the car got into difficulties owing to the flood waters on the road. An attempt was made ta make the trip via Muriwai, and it was only after a good deal of manoeuvring that the crossing was made. The opportune arrival of the #.SC train from the city, however, decided the Prime Minister that the motor-ear should be adandoned. The rest of the journey was made in the Ministerial car, which had fortunately been attached to the train. Flood waters are lying in the towlevels near and beyond Helensville. The gauge at Dargaville registered 3.08 inches of rain for the 24 hours until yesterday morning. There was four feet of water on the road at Waihue. The temporary bridge at Waipoua forest was washed away, which means the stoppage of all traffic on this road for at least several weeks. The heaviest flood for 20 years habeen experienced in the V alley, but so far no 4oss of stock h. - been reported. road between Dargaville an Whangarei is clear, but creeks in tbr vicinity are running bank high.