THE WEATHER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8335, 18 January 1907, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

By Telegraph—Press Association. ! HAMILTON, January 17. It is believed that a man, named Thomas Waugh, has been drowned in the flood at Whatawhata, Several bridges have been washed away in, this district, and the roads are cut up badly. Many families are driven from their homes. The flaxmills are inundated, and the employees are thrown out of wdrk. It is impossible to estimate the damage at present. Waikato has had no mails from Auckland since Monday in consequence . of the flood and damage to the lines. The Rotorua express arrived at Hamilton at 11.15 o'clock last night—more than two days overdue. The flood waters are now subsiding, the ' Waikato River at 9 o'clock this morning . having fallen five feet. Mails are expected from Auckland to-day, being transhipped at Mercer to a launch, and conveyed for the rest of the journey by river. At Ngaruatwahia and- the adjacent places severe hardship prevails, many families being driven out of their homes by the advancing water. Several flaxmills are inundated,. and the employees have been thrown out of work. AUCKLAND, January 16. A pressman who went along the Waikato railway as far as Drury yesterday found that the water in the creeks was receding rapidly, while a great portion of the low-lying land has become free of water 'once more. Reports received state that the major portion of the crops are destroyed, and in many cases whole areas have been swept away, while several I orchards have been flooded and trees uprooted and the fruit stripped. A large number of small traffic bridges have been swept away, minimising road communication. Around Drury the , flood was very severe, and created much havoc. The railway embankment on Tuesday, when the flood was at its highest, was washed clean away in places, and the rails suspended in the air. The track was repaired to Pukekohe by last night, ten miles past Drury, and 32 miles from Auckland. In some places the potato crop has been very much damaged, white the blight appeared'in increased vigour from the effects of the rain and heat. A number of narrow escapes occurred, but no serious accidents have been reported. A party of gumdiggers at Papakura Valley had to take shelter in a* t tree on Tuesday night. . INVERCARGILL, Jan. 17. Advices to hand from Queenstown state *hat the recent' hot spell has given place to cooler weather. Last evening a heavy, but very short, hail passed over the' town. Reports is to the crops are favourable.

CABLE NEWS.

By!Telegraph—Piess Association—Copyright