HEAVY RAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1920, Page 5

HEAVY RAIN.

SLIPS ON THE RAILWAY.

MAIL OYER FIVE HOURS LATA ARRIVED EARLY THIS MORNDTCL The mail train from Wellington, du» at New Plymouth at eight o'clock last night, did not arrive until 1.23 t.hi». morning, thus being over five hour* late. The cause of the delay was slips; between Wanganui and Mftrton. The trouble occurred early in that afternoon, so that the express from New,' Plymouth to Wellington got through,; but all tho afternon traffic wag com-' pletely disorganised. Heavy rain hod fallen in the locality of the slips since Monday.

The first trouble met with by the train coming to New Plymouth was a$ Greatford, where a half-hour stop WM necessary, the line being blocked. Then another blockage had to be negotiate! at Wangaehu, and this was repaired only to discover that a. few miles further on (at Fordell), a big fall of earth bad occurred, and the passengers had to walk over the slip. The weather was fortunately fairly fine. A wait of over (two hours, how* ever, was the lot of the passengers till the arrival of a train from Wanganui, to which they transferred. Forty men were employed in clearing the debru, and it was hoped to have the line clear by seven o'clock this morning. Fordell is about thirteen miles south' of Wanganui.

Passengers from Auckland to New Plymouth had a particularly bad time, as the Maiu Trunk train was also held up. One passenger told a Daily New* reporter that just before reaching Marton a bad slip occurred. As the train, was passing a cutting the hillside fell away, the earth being heaped up on th« engine and front carriages, and a gang of men had to be put on to release t'X-f engine.

Prior to this a stoppage was necessary at Taihape owing to a small slip. Th» train which reached Marton was reduced to an engine and a couple of carriages! Heavy rain had prevailed in the Wuganui district, and reports last night stated that these conditions were still being experienced.

HEAVY BAINS. OVER SIX INCHES IN THIRTY HOURS. RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD. There was another steady fall of rain in New Plymouth yesterday, and follow* icg Monday'* continuous downpour it flooded 'he rivers, and thoroughly drenched the countryside. A slight! break in the fall occurred about 3.8f1t p.m., but it recommenced in torrential showers in the evening. The downpour found weak spots in many buildings, taxed the capaoity of the spoutings and downpipes, while the street channels were miniature swirlins streams.

Since the break in the fine spell, which | occurred at three o'clock on Monday morning, till ten o'clock yesterday, the fall registered (for thirty hours), was 6.48 inches, according to the instruments at Pukekura Park, This waj the highest experienced for such a period for Rome, considerable time. After the above registration the downpour maintained its intensity Towards midnight last night, Iheri» was a cessation of the rain, but last night's weather report is not hopeful. It says: Present indications are for easterly winds, backing to north-west, strong to gale; weather dull and misty, with rain probable generally; barometer falling everywhere." The effect of the rains on the rivers was to cause big rises, and in some of (he streams there was a considerable volume of water rushing along at flood level.

In the Waiwakaiho the level reached at the intake at the powerhouse aft Mangorei was lift Bin, this figure being recorded by the guage at seven o'clock last night. It is equivalent to a seven toot rise at the Waiwakaiho bridge,. 1 his height, however, was exceeded on the occasion of the heavy rains about four months ago, when 12ft Bin was recorded. At 8.30 last night the river was still-rising. The Huatoki and the Te Henui Rtreams were also at an abnormal level.

A good portion of the Uruti Valley became inundated. The mail coach was only able to proceed as far as Waitoitoi, and then returned, the road from then on to Mt. Messenger being under water. Some slight hitch in the telegraphic communications also resulted from the weather conditions.

SLIPS ON MAIN TRUNK.. by Teleirapli—Press Association. Taihape, Oct. 2fl. Heavy rain yesterday and to-day caused some small slips to come down on the railway between Mangaweka and Taihape. One slip north of Mangawcka completely blocked the line for about ten hours, bub now it has been cleared. The night express from Wellington was v held up at Mangaweka for six hours. The slips have been cleared and traffic resumed. The heavy rain of a few weeks ago caused damage in the Rangitikei county to the extent of over £3500. MANAWATU RIVERS IN FLOOD « Palmerston North, Oct. 20. Heavy rains have been experienced throughout the Manawatu district during the last 24 hours and all the rivers are in flood. The rainfall for the 24 hours «nded at 9 o'clock this motoring in six years. The temperature dropped in the 24 hours from (tldeg. to 43deg. It still raining, with a cold wind.