IMPOUNDED WATER ON HILLCREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 58, 21 March 1944, Page 5

IMPOUNDED WATER ON HILLCREST

TWO ANXIOUS DAYS FEARS OF SECOND FLOOD

The impounding of many tons of flood water behind a blocked culvert at Hillcrest on. Friday following' the heavy d'ownpour led to the gravest fears beingentertained for the safety of the buildings immediately below. The growing volume of water - against this ramp some ei'ghty feet above the business) section -of the town had by noon poured -over the dam and in a comparatively short time eaten away two thirds of the roadway, which alone stood between the town and' what might have been a serious flood wiith severe consequences. Steps were taken to warn all per•sons on the Strand to keep clear and ■to prepare for the possibility of a second Hood. This warning was given by phone, by loud speaker and later by special messenger, the police also assisting in the removal of the. public and parked vehicles. , At that time the breaking of the 301't culvert was deemed to be about to take plaec at any moment. In obedience, to this order the. town virtually closed lip, ninety per cent • of the employees going home after making provision for all eventualities by blocking and sandbagging their shop and office entrances. Divert ion Channel Dug A large gang of Borough workmen ■were e imaged in seeking to divert the gathering pressure of the impounded waters, bv digging a sidechannel, Avliieh was completed shortly alter 1 p.m. The result of this measure though not apparent for some time was that gradually the water level subsided and the iriimediate danger of a wall of water being plunged into the rear of the town from a height of eighty feet, averted. The position however remained: extremely grave until two hours later when th(.» threat was considered in a great measure, removed . The business section remained closed for the rest of tlie day. An Anxious Night Following an anxious night when "the impounded water in the. gully at Hillcrest was carefully Avatched by Borough officials and workmen the position on Saturday morning •was considered to be beyond danger. The divertionary channel had reduced the level by some two feet, and: steps were taken under the direction of Mr W. S. Henderson (Borough Engineer) to demolish the natural dam by slow degrees in • orde.r to enable the waters to be controlled as they escaped. This wis ■done successfully and by Saturday afternoon the threat which had been overhanging the to\\;n for two days was definitely removed, the water retaining its channel and llowing safely down the rocky Hillcrest slopes .to the culvert at the rear of JVfessrs Ha mill's garage. Pumping AssKsts The provision of a portable, pump loaned from the P.W.D. materially assited in relieving the strain against the dam and for the better part of the week-end water was ejected into the. valley below at the rate, of 2000 gallons an hour by this means. Saturday morning it. was a case of 'business as usual' for the majority of the shop and business premises.