DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1920, Page 6

DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

TRAGEDY IN tfORTH AUCKLAND. CAMP FLOODED AT NIGHT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Mareli 29. Matthews, whose camp in the Upper Paparoa Valley was flooded, resulting in his wife and three children being drowned, was awakened at 4 a.m. by the waiter, which reached the beds in which he, his wife, and family slept. He swam ashore with the baby, returned and placed the others on the roof of the dwelling. The flood swept the cottape away. Matthews rescued another child, hut the mother and three children were swept away. Their dead bodies were recovered later. Pearce, a resident of Paparoa, was seen swimming, and his dead body was recovered later. One man was rescued from a, tree after sis; hours. A woman was recovered from a tree in night attire with her infant. I It is reported that it motor car fell l through a gap in the bridge in the | Waipu Gorge. The car was wrecked j and the body of one of its occupants, a I returned soldier, wa3 found later. The | fate of the other occupant is unknown. | At Sutherland's boarding-house the ' women took refuge in the attic. The i water rose three feet above the floor and then subsided. Considerable damage has been done to road construction works throughout the district.

WHANGAREI UNDER WATER. | LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED. Whangarei, March 29. A torrential storm burst over Whangarei on Friday night, and by midnight it had reached its height, and houses in low-lying parts of the town were in serious danger of inundation. The storm was renewed with great fury on Saturday morning, and rivers in all parts of the country were washed away and serious losses of stock were reported.

It is reported that five men have lost their lives at Maungaturoto, hut it is not yet confirmed. The general damage will run into many thousands. The eletcric power works at Wairua Falls were also flooded. The concrete walls were keeping the water out. but ! the river rose so high that it was feared i that the pressure would cause a collapse, so the water was allowed in and the town was plunged into darkness on Saturday night- The light is now restored. TJip train service with the north was also interrupted on Saturday and the shipping was held up. The Manaia, with Sir James Allen on board, could not leave the harbor, but it is understood she left the shelter of the heads at 6 a.m. on Sunday. News is slowly filtering in, but much I lacks confirmation. One rumour just /received is that a family living in a tent at Hauraru was swept away. The I weather is now fine but overcast.

COAIi MINES FLOODED. W'angarei, Last Night. As a result of the recent heavy storms the Northern Coal Company's mines at Kiripaki were flooded and the main exits blocked by slips. Tt is estimated that some weeks must elapse before the mines can be re-opened. The tramway and bridge was also carried away. FLOODS IK GISBORNF, DISTRICTS. Gisbonie, March 29. Phenomenally heavy rains are reportfifl in the Waiapu district. At Puketiti, Waipiro, 17 inches were recorded; at Tokomaru Bay, 14 inches; at AhiUoura, between 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 R itt. on Saturday nine inches fell. The rivers are in heavy flood. A later message from Riiatorea, Waiapu County, states that lS'/ ; inches of rain fallen in three days up to S o'clock this mornina-, the heaviest ratnfall since February, 1!)17. There are enormous floods in the rivers. The rainfall at Gisborne was two inches in throe days.

TAURANGA FTSHF.RMAN MTSSIW. Tauranga., March 29. Tauranga experienced the full effects of the south-easterly gale on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but very little fain fell and no damage is reported. A man named flodfrcy Carlson, who went outside on Wednesday in a small boat fish in?, has not yet returned, and the worst is feared. "The Ngapuhi did not reach here on Saturday, and the trip was abandoned.