Wild Weather

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 297, 19 May 1914, Page 5

Wild Weather

THE PORT UNWORKABLE. RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD. SETTLERS' HOMES ENDANGERED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gieborne, Last Night, A south-easterly eboMn of exceptional rfcverity lias teen raging since 8 a.m. on Sunday. The steataer Wartrijiioo arrived from Auckland yestendfty afternoon, buit <roas unable to tranship her paagengens, an (] put out to sea. She hag not yet returned. A tremendous ig running off the coast, and heavy rain is failing on the whole of the eastern seaboard. Rivers are in high flood, The Waipoa river overflowed its banks at midnight, but though much water is lying abou't tlie flats no damage of any consequence is reported Settlers whose homes were in danger have taken the precaution during the night to remove their stock to Ihigher levels. The steamer Ngahere, moored at the Gisborne wharf, broke adrift laatj night, but anchorsi were promptly cant, and the vessel held safely. RIVERS (RAPIDLY RISING. A TOWNSHIP THREATENED. RAILWAY LINE INUNDATED. Inter. The river has risen twenty feet at Te KaPalai. The continues. The waters are encroaching on Patutalhi townflliip, but (the, settlers having taken the precaution to remove their stock, not much damage is anticipated. Boats are being seat out from town to assist set/Uem in the country, several of whom have water through their houses.

The railway services are suspended, owing to extensive Blips. The water is wor the railway line at) Makfturi and Orsnond. FLOODS IN HAWKE'S BAY, A REMARKABLY HEAVY RAINFALL. SHIPPING AT A STANDSTILL. Napier, Last Night. Rain lias fallen continuously through out Hawko's Bay since Saturday afternoon, an.il at 11 o'clock to-night there is still no sign .of the weather clearing. A strong southerly 'has also brought up u heavy isen, and generally the conditions are extremely unpleasant.

There is anueh water on the low-lying parts of the country, and many dip's are reported on country roads. At Tutira station the rainfall for forty hours was over nine inches, while in Napier it was nearly four inches. Owing to the high sea the Warrimoo was unable to berth at the breakwater, and is standing off (till tlie weatheir moderates, while the Kealandic and Kauri have put out to sea. All the rivers are considerably swollen, but none has so far overflowed its hanks, except at Papakura, wilier® stock had to be removed ito Jidgher land. No losses of stock are reported. HEAVY RAINFALL IN NAPIER. Napier, Yesterday. Steady persist tent rain set in *on Saturday afternoon, continuing throughout yesterday, and to-day shows little, immovement. Over 4 1 / a inches have fallen in 40 hours. ■Reports from the country indicate (that there has been a heavy fall'and rivers-are very swollen. THE COASTAL SHIPPING DISORGANISED. Wellington, Last Night. The' weather to-day continued wild and wet, and, with heavy seas running in Cook Strait, tho smaller coastal vessels' running has been disorganised. GISBORNE ISOLATED. FLOODS IN EAST COAST DISTRICT. Wellington, Last Night. At ten o'clock to-night the Telegraph Office advised that communication with Giehorne had been totally interrupted all day. Napier reports that the weather is very bad, and the country flooded. There is little chance of communication being restored to-morrow. The postmistress at Mohaka had to abandon the office owing to floods. The appronch to the Mohaka bridge has been washed away, and it is feared the bridge will go also. < Wairoa reports tliat the river is in high flood, and -there is no chance of mails leaving for several days.