FLOODS IN TARANAKI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1938, Page 3

FLOODS IN TARANAKI

FLAT COUNTRY I.NUN DATED. LOSSES OF STOCK FEARED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, November 1. Heavy rain throughout the ,day in the"Awakino district resulted in flooding of the flat country about Awakino and in the Uruti Valley. An extensive slip in the Awakino Valley 'blocks the .New Plymouth-Auckland road and it is not .expected to be cleared 'before .mid-day tomorrow. Rain began throughout the North Taranaki district this morning and continued without diminution. Water this afternoon covered the main north road in ..the .Uruti Valley to a depth of several feet and only very high vehicles were able to go through. It was still raining heavily tonight but stock had been moved to safety and no losses were feared.

In Awakino, however, the position is worse. There the flat land of the township was under water, the Awakino River having risen rapidly. The tide had been running out but was about to turn and, with no cessation of rain seeming likely, further flooding and serious stock losses were feared.

A slip began to fall on the main highway in the Awakino Valley about seven miles north of Awakino early in the day. With further falls up to about 4 p.m., it had rendered the road impassable. Its extent was such that a Public Works Department official estimated .that it could not be cleared before midday tomorrow. A service car bound from New Plymouth to. Auckland, which had just negotiated the big slip before it completely blocked 'the road, was unable to go more than a mile and a .half further, for several small slips blocked the road and it was marooned for several hours. The .driver hoped to continue the journey late tonight. There were no passengers aboard.