GLUM AUCKLANDERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 898, 15 February 1930, Page 8

GLUM AUCKLANDERS

HEAVY RAIN REPEATED IN CITY FLOODS IN THE COUNTRY More wet weather last night and today and Aucklanders looked morose to an extent scarcely reached in the past decade. So it was for the cricketers of the city. When they went to bed last evening, their thoughts were centred on the covered wickets of Eden Park. In their harrowed souls was consideration for the M.C.C. and the New Zealand cricketers who have been sitting for two days in profound dejection, cwiddling their thumbs. Typists and bank clerks abandoned their hopes of excursions to Kawau. Waiheke, Motutapu and Motuihi this morning. The stouter spirits, however, are clinging to hopes for tomorrow. Work on the waterfront has been delayed considerably. The Marama’s departure for Sydney was postponed from last evening until this evening. In the city, telephone complaints were more frequent than usual. Following the rainfall in 24 hours recorded as 3.2 Sin in Albert Park at 9 a.m. yesterday, the Government observer, Mr. H. W. Vincent, reported a fall of 2.74 in for 24 hours up to 9 o’clock this morning. So far this month, 6.2 3in of rain represents the figure recorded in Auckland and the humidity this morning was 100 per cent., meaning that the atmosphere could not retain more moisture. This position was shown yesterday morning. The record rainfall for February was in 1917, with 12. Gin. Heavy rainfalls lor 24 hours in Auckland have been G.Slin on February 11, 1869, 5.54 in on February 3, 1917, and 5.10 in on May 24, 1924. SHIPPING DELAYED Heavy fog in the Mauraki Gulf this morning held up several overseas vessels which were making for Auckland. At 11 o’clock a thick blanket of fog still completely blocked out every available land point and the vessels lay off Tiri Tiri waiting for it to lift. The Northumberland from Liverpool, due in port last night, was still out in the Gulf at 11 o’clock this morning. The Waitemata, from Los Angeles, was also held up and could not make port, as well as the June, with phosphates from Nauru. • The Paua from Wellington anchored in the Gulf for some time, but berthed later in the day. HIGH TIDES There was an exceptionally high tide this morning along the waterfront. At 9 o’clock this jnorning the water had risen over the launch steps and landings. The high watei' was due to the fact that the spring tides had been backed up by the violent northerly gale and rain in the Gulf. NORTH ROAD BLOCKED DOWNPOUR GENERAL IN PROVINCE TRAINS GET THROUGH With two days’ rain, flood waters north of Auckland reached inconvenient proportions last evening and this morning. A high tide oij the Kaipara River prevented surplus waters from flowing out this morning, with the result that the depth on a dip in the road at Waimauku was fully 3ft Gin. There was another considerable depth in a second dip and the only car to come through the flood waters to Auckland this morning was a service car. "Water poured into the floor of the car, but the driver managed to bring the machine through. At midday, the road was not negotiable but motorists should be able to use it this evening. At Kumeu, Rawhiti, Wharepapa and Woodhill there were frequent patches of flood water. Most motorists did not attempt the journey along the sodden highway. Motor-trucks towed cars in many cases, and three cars were marooned near Waimauku when

a towrope snapped. Motorists found the road along Kaipara Flats impassable early last evening. KAITAIA TO OPOTIKI Heavy rain was general throughout Auckland Province. In the Far North, at Kaitaia. six inches of rain fell in less than 36 hours. Steady rain was reported from Whangarei, on the East Coast, and Hokianga, on the West Coast. Six in’ches of rain fell at Dai'gaville in 24 hours and residents were expecting a flood on the Northern Wairoa. A midday tide yesterday on the Kaipara saved the position and no damage was reported this morning. Rain overnight caused lowerlying areas to be flooded and many creeks were running bank-high this morning. South and east in the province heavy rain was experienced. Opotiki, Whakatane, Tauranga, Cambridge and Hamilton reported abnormal downfalls. Railway services have been fortunate in the small number of delays. The north train last evening reached the City according to schedule, although long stretches of line on the Kaipara Flats were submerged by as much as two feet of water. Rain reached contacts and insulation in the automatic signal controls between Auckland and Mercer and the Daylight Limited and several other trains were delayed for short spaces. RAILWAY FLOODED LINE UNDER SIX FEET OF WATER NO TRAFFIC AT WAYBY The railway line at Waybv is six feet under water and there will be no traffic between Kaipara Flats and Wellsford today. The line is covered for a distance of about a mile, but no passengers will be transhipped from one train to the other over the inundated area. The section of the line in the vicinity of Way by is very low-lying and suffers periodically during heavy rains. At 10 o’clock this morning it was still raining and though no actual damage had been done to the track it was considered likely that a washout would result.