RANGITAIKI PLAINS FLOODED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 52, 25 February 1944, Page 5

RANGITAIKI PLAINS FLOODED

Thousands of Acres Inundated HEAVY LOSS OF STOCK RECORD SINCE 1925

The most serious flood since tho 1925 visitation which is regarded 1 ra s the greatest seen on the. Rangitaiki Plains occurred last Wedn nesday night and throughout the better part of yesterday when thousands of acres of rich farmlands bordering the Tarawera, Rangitaiki and Whakaitane Rivers were submerged to varying .depths of from two to eight feet. The heavy rain from the high back country at Galatea and Waimana, transformed the three main rivers into roaring torrents of which swept across the land* scape in a destructive brown flood'. Many farmers have suffered serious losses, involving hundreds of head of valuable high producing dairy stock. Homesteads have been isolated and the township of Edgecumbe where the settlers put up a losing fight to strengthen the stopbanks of the Rangitaiki River, has been invaded by the flood waters which have entered) many of the and caused) widespread havoc. Seventy-five per cent of the settlers on the Plains have been isolated since Wednesday, but the cessation of the rain last evening has brought about an abatement and the floods are now receding.

. Nearly Six Inches of Rain The excessivo downpour of rain "■which commenced with 1.88 inches -on Tuesday morning and had increased to 1.19 inches by yesterday morning caused a major flood in the Rangitaiki Plains and Opouriao districts. Apparently, however, this fall is no indication of "what fell in the back country of Galatea, Waixnana, and tlie Ijrcwera gcneially where the watersheds of. the Whaikatane and Rangitaiki are situated.

The fall in these areas was so igreat, that Mr J. Grant of Galatea

reported by phone to anxious settlers 011 the. Rangitaiki Plains, that the water level at Kopuriki was as high as it was in the record-Hood -of 1925. Heavy consistent rain in the lower areas on Wednesday gave rise to the greatest anxiety and the Rangitaiki river, which was stopbank high threatened to overflow at any moment. Farmers in the •vicinity hastily removed their cattle to higher land, but it was iearnt .yesterday that, the river retained its channel, with the exception of one or two minor flooding*, ( until Thursday evening.

Whakatane Leaves Banks The Tarawera river has also been bank high for the last three days, but owing to its swifter » draught and deeper effluent, the water has retained its bed without any serious -consequences. A different story is told of Whakatane however, where yesterday onorning, several thousand, acres of land Avere submerged in depths a-try-ing from 2 to 7 feet.

All main road approaches with the exception of the Tauranga route were blocked, thus preventing supplies either coming into, or leaving the town. The Rural Delivery ser-

vice upon which so many farmers rely for their bread and meat supplies was held up for two days, the only method of communication being by phone.

The Tancatua road has seen considerable Hooding, and it is feared that, there has been a considerable loss of stock in the Valley Road, Tancatua, and Opouriao areas. The water ro.se with such rapidity in this district that farmers were unable to move their stock in time to escape the Hood.

In tlie town ol' Whakatane, the whole liar-hour, usually so tranquil, was. turned into a raging torrent, with logs, carcases and debris of all kinds being swept out to> sea.

The evening tide, on Wednesday, banked up by a strong easterly wind was expected to produce a fairly extensive flood in the Strand, but fortunately this failed to eventuate. /Paper Mills Dislocation The Paper Mills bus service was disrupted owing to flood waters cutting off the Paroa approach, and the management was forced fo institute a ferry service up the river from the wharf. Fears were enter- ] tained for flooding at the mills j themselves as all the river approaches and drains are heavily flooded - Galatea and Edgecumbe A report from Galatea this morning states that the Kopuriki stream, one of the largest that llows through that district was five feet fiigher than ever before. At Edgecumbe throughout the night, an all-night battle was waged against the flood water, which left the river fibout midnight, and poured over adjacent land. The subway to the Edgecumbe township, which gives access to the Whakatane end of the district, had 7 feet of water in it, and the only actual method of contact with t-he outside world was by rail. Settlers tried sandbagging the gaps in the stopbanks of the Ran-) gituiki river yesterday morning, but the water overwhelmed these efforts, and swiftly inundated tbe ad-

joining houses and shops of the township. As a result, many families have been isolated, and boats have been plying between the various residences. Work Suspended at Factory The Rangitai'ki dairy factory, one of the largest co-operative firms in New Zealand was forced to suspend operations, the water having invaded tlie plant, making work impossible. Efforts are being made lo reestablish working operations to-day. The school bus service was also disrupted, and children Avere unable to attend school during the better part of the. week. Ruatoki and Poroporo Stores Water invaded both the Ruatoki and Poroporo stores at the height of the flood period yesterday. At Ruatoki Mr Middlemiss, the proprietor, had to vacate the lower premises of his shop and transfer his family to the upstairs section.

A foot of water in the Poroporo Store, the property of Mr J. W. Symons*, caused considerable inconvenience, but fortunately the. waters receded before any serious damage had been done.

DAIRY HERD DROWN TANEATUA FARMER'S LOSS One of the heaviest losers of stock as a result of the destructive, 'flood is Mr Neil Reid, of Taneatua, whose lower paddocks in which he has his herd grazing were swept by the swollen waters with that dramatic- suddenness, which caught so many other farmers by surprise.

Mr Reld lost his milking herd of sixty-live cows and twenty young stock. Some of these may be recovered lower down the river after having swum to safety but it is feared that there is. little hope for the

main he.nl. Another farmer Mr K- Webster, of the same district, lost 20 head of cattle while there are many other instances of individual losses, of a smaller nature. To-day's reports in this connection are far from complete as many farmers li;tve entirely lost trace of their stock and the total losses may yet reach very substantial figures., Residents at the Whakatane Heads reported a steady stream of carcases, sheep, cattle, and pigs being washed out to sea.

PLIGHT AT EDGECUMBE FAMILIES DRIVKN OUT Several Edgecumbe families were forced to vacate their homes yesterday when the water from the swollen Rangitaiki poured into them. Mr Trevor King, who is a mechanic to the Dairy Company, found two feet of water in his bedroom when he, woke up and had to beat a hasty retreat. The house occupied by Mr and Mrs Eric List had also to be vacated, while Mr and Mrs f. Conway were also forced to beat a hasty retreat in the face of the ri&j ing waters.. All the Government houses at Edgecumbe are llooded while the water yesterday was pouring through many of the shops.

The main break in the stopbank has occurred a little below the dairy factory which j'esterday morning had a foot of water in the main room. The water from this outlet is pouring over the countryside and yesterday had., covered some thousands of acres. Herds from adjoining land including the. whole. 1000acre HoMsworth estate have been removed to higher country. The road at the rear of the dairy factory is Hooded for 1% miles whilst the angry waters have formed a new ! (Continued in next ooiuiun*

course across country cutting through the sub-way and (lowing into the large shallow basin formation bordering the railway line which leads to Awakcri.

WATERS RECEDING REPORT FROM GALATEA From Galatea this morning it is learnt that the Kopuriki Stream has now abated 1 to the extent of 4 feet. The waters generally in the higher country are abating. Hie position of Edgecumbe as) we got to press appears to be slightly improved the flood level having gone down perceptively. There is nevertheless a tremendous acreage of pasturage still under water and many houses are still marooned. It is! known that many bridges and culverts are washedi out but the extent of the damage cannot be ascertained until the water subside®. The Edgecumbe river bridge is in d&nger of collapsing any moment under the pressure of the flood waters.

SCENE AT HEADS S ANDSPFF SG( )C REI> AW A Y The we)!, known sandspit a* the mouth of the Whakatane Ha;bout> has been removed for a hundred yards or more by the great pressure of the flood waters. As a result the harbour mouth once barely 50 yards across is now the. best part of 200 yards. The widening of the river mouth is thought by some to have. be<ia the direct reason for the absence of serious flooding in the town o Wlia.vatane itself.