Heavy Gale and Rain.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4432, 6 July 1909, Page 2

Heavy Gale and Rain.

RIVER IN HIGH FLOOD.

The gale reported in our last issue which put in its appearance on Friday evening continued throughout Saturday, and increased in violence to a regular hurricane, accompanied by heavy rniu. The numerous tributaries to the Wailiou were filled to overflowing, and very quickly the river spread itself over the banks and inundated all the low lying country. Up to the present no serious damage is reported in Te Aroha and the outlying districts, although some of the buildings were severely strained by the violence of the gale. At times it was almost impossible to stand up against the wind, and very few pedestrians were noticed in our streets. In Whitaker-street several windows were blown in anti one or two sign boards carried away. A shed at the back of Waverly House was partially unroofed, and the sheets of galvanized iron scattered in all directions, a piece of scantling in its aerial flight went through the Court house windows on the opposite side of the street. A number of fences and outhouses were levelled and trees uprooted. At Rualtaka Mrs Willis’ house was unroofed, and ether slight damage done in the neighbourhood. Mr H. Rowe’s dwelling was also unroofed, and some of the iron carried 100 yards away. At Waitoa the Eastport Road was practically blocked through uprooted trees stretching across it. The Waiorongomai Creek bridge approaches were partly washed away ; at the Gordon a small bridge is washed out. The bridge near Mr Currie’s, at Manawaru, received a severe shaking. Supervisor Johnson was quickly on the scene and fixed matters up. The gale abated early on Saturday morning. The river is still rising,

TWO MEN DROWNED

At Hikutaia unfortunately two livesthose of Henry Davies (aged 17 years), whose father resides at Wharepoa, and Albert Riley (aged 20 years), whose mother resides at Thames —were lost. The young men . attempted to cross the Hikutaia River Iwhile it was in full flood, and were carried away by th* swift running current and drowned.