FLOODS IN THE NORTH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 18 May 1925, Page 10

FLOODS IN THE NORTH.

EIGHT INCHES RAIN IN 52 HOURS.

TRAFFIC IMPEDED IN KING COUNTRY.

By Teleyrnnh—Prc* A.aoriluinn

AUCKLAND* May 15. The Mangtokowa rose another two feet this morning.

There were heavy showers during last night, but the -weather lias now a brighter outlook. Yesterday it was reported that several bridges were seriously damaged on tho. road to Marokopa. One in concrete, over the Kiretihere, dropped four feet below the road level. . Two miles of road near the Marokopa dairy factory are under water to four feet and other parts are flooded to a lesser extent. Nearer the Marakopa factory 30 feet of road lias been completely washed away. Tho floods in the Kiretihere district are said to be the worst for 30 years. It will be- impossible for tho mail car to go through for several days. Between Te Kuiti and Piopio the. passenger service cars had to tranship by .dray, the wgter being up to the 4 floor.

Cars were only . able to. get to Mahoenui yesterday, owing to a slip on tho Awakino Valley road. Slips occurred frequently along the road—faster than the gang could repair. It is reported that the Awakino and Mokare rivers both burst their banks.

The fall at Piopio was 7.18 inches in 52 hours.

Thirteen cars are stranded. Three ],aSt night could not get either way.A settler named Falk had to leave his house at Piopio owing to the flood. Tho condition shows an improvement there to-day. Tho lines are down between Te Kuiti and Marokopa, and there is no news this morning.

RIVERS FALLING AT TAUMARUNUI. By Telerraph—Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, Stay 15. : ::The Wanganui river this morning dropped three feet, and the Ongarue river fell four feet below yesterday’s flood level. The rivers, however, 'are' still in a dangerous state, and the riverboat w,as again unable to depart. Many washouts are reported, one in Otunui Road being fifty feet wide, and twenty feet deep. Mr J. McCann, a borough employee, had. to vacate his house situated near Tnringamotu, as it was surrounded by water. ' Damage was done to Ellis and Burnand’s tramway, leading to the Ongarue mill, and bridges, also, are seriously .affected. The estimated damage in the Ongarue area totals £IOOO.