FLOODS SUBSIDING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 1, 7 September 1942, Page 5

FLOODS SUBSIDING

CLOSE CALL AT EDGECUMBE

XARGE AREA STILL INUNDATED

ANXIOUS TIME ON PLAINS

Three days and nights of continuous rain last week following a hitherto comparatively mildi winter left the three rivers •draining the Rangitaiki Plains in high spate. * Thousands of acres under water at the southern end of the Plains constituted in the main, tussock and waste country, though several farms on the immediate low-ly-ing levels were also under vapring depths. The main threat -came: from the Rangitaiki River where the flood 1 waters were bank high 'and in danger of breaking through the stop-banks at any moment last Friday. A ceaseless patrol of the river from Te Teko, where hundred's of acres were already inundated, to the river-mouth at Thornton was maintained, and places where the water had' already overflowed into the surrounding -country were hasitily built up and sandbagged. At Edgecumbe township the water until Sattirdlay morning was lapping the ■crest of the stop-banks for miles, while the Galatea bridge at Te Teko was impassable. The flood constituted the most 'dangerous to the plains since the 3925 visitation, but fortunately on this occasion the stop-banks stood up to the test and prevented the sane extensive flooding of valuable grazing areas in the mid-section of the plains. Wliakatane River Rises The Wliakatane river burst its banks last Thursday night and throughout Friday extended from -the main Whakatane-Rotorua highway to the hills a distance of one and a half miles. Stock from the areas threatened were hurriedly removed in the early hours of the morning to higher ground lot safety. : Since that access to the Wliakatane West Railway Station has been cut "off, the service bus being forced to make the detour to Awakcri. Taneatua was also isolated for a short period, when Gisbornc traffic was held up for over six hours. At Waixnana the river, which was already giving considerable concern by its widespread erosion, had left its banks and fed by steady rain was sweeping through the flats in the centre of the valley at an amazing rate. Throughout Friday all Gisborne bound traffic was forced to make the detour through White Pine Bush, but at midnight the road Avas passable again as the tide recceded. Galatea Cut Off At Galatea, .where it appeared something resembling a cloudburst had been experienced the settlers •declare that the flood was the highest for 20 years. As early as Thursday the Koporiki stream was pouring its waters over the adjacent countryside while shortly afterwards the Wharinaki also burst its banks thus .cutting off completely the two roads giving access to the settlement. Up till yesterday when the first vehicle was able to get through some sixty families had been isolated. Telephonic communication from "the settlers in this district served as a warning to dwellers on the plains who were informed that the surface -water which Avould have to be carried from the Galatea plain by the Rangitaiki would bring about an inevitable flood. For this reason the greatest apprehension was felt at Edgecumbe where the river in places lapped the top of the stop-banks some fifteen feet above the level of the surrounding countryside. Throughout Friday night when it was feared the liigli tide at midnight would bank the water up sufficiently to endanger a wide area. Fortunately 'the banks on the north side where the danger was greatest, the water only succeeded in sending a few trickles over the top but on the south, several large vents were made and by Saturday morning several hundred acres were flooded. though without damage to property. By 9 a.m. the water level had dropped one foot and fell steadily throughout the day. Tarawera in Spate The Tarawera river draining the western plain with it affluence at Miitata was also in high flood, bu? its more direct course prevented the same wide distribution of its waters and no real concern was felt for the districts through which it, passed.

A surprising feature of, the extensive Hoods, was that the Borough of Wliakatane escaped any damage or even discomforture. The only sufferers were those farmers f/hose properties bordered the river in Bridge Street where' several paddocks were submerged. The town has experienced higher river levels when the back ccuntry has not shown any serious signs of (100 ling.