FLOODING AND WASH-OUTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 1, 22 August 1944, Page 5

FLOODING AND WASH-OUTS

WEEK END DOWNPOUR

The excessive rain which fell over the week-end was the cause of extensive flooding' in the Whakatane area > and a number of roads suffered wash-outs and' slips. The total amount of rain which fell during Friday, Saturday and Sunday was 4.16 inc., the greatest individual fall for any one 24-hour period l during the three days being on Saturday when 3.36 ins were registeredl

As a result of Station Road being rendered the Road Service buses yesterday were required lo conncct with the train at Awakeri. The flooding was mainly caused through the overflowing of the Waiohou stream and the Te Rahu drain together with a large volume of surface Avater which inundated the road for a stretch approximating three-quarters of a mile. Farms in this vicinity came in for minor flooding, the largest amount of water lying on Mr W. Smith's property. Slock was being removed from the danger area on Saturday and Sunday. The roads to Tancatua and Awakcri arc now opcn j though for a period on Sunday they were impassable. Minor slips have come down on the road between Te Teko and Galatea while vehicles can ford the Kopuriki stream which is running very high only with difficulty. The road from Galatea to Te Whaiti is clear although all streams are well up. At Wainui heavy slips are report-, ed to have blockcd the road for a considerable while the back or 'gorge' road to Ohope is also blocked. Smaller slips are also reported from the Waimana route, though through traffic was able to maintain an uninterrupted service.