FLOOD AND WASHOUT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 53, 2 March 1945, Page 4

FLOOD AND WASHOUT

MARAETOTARA BURSTS

LATE EVENING VISITATION

TOWN PREMISES NARROW

ESCAPE

Almost .to the.'ilay. Whakatane suffered a.- further .'flood which f although not of the same volume as the 1 severe inundation which occurred last year, was sufficient enough to cause widespread discomfort andl not a little apprehension. Following continual rain throughout yesterday the water on the table land of Hillcrest was apparently su-fi'icient to cause the Maraetotara to burst its banks at tli e rear of Mr T. M. White's residence in Valley Road ? from where it poured across a large section of land into Anzac Douglas and lower Salonika Street. The flood waters were first noticed about 10 p.m. 1 > when all residents in the vicinity were notified to take precautions as it was not known to what height the waters would reach. Almost at the same time the small stream from Hillcrest at the rear of Messrs Hamill Bros, assumed dangerous proportions and built a pile of rubble six or seven foot high against the back Avail of the building and poured in a growing stream across the Strand Avhich was extensively flooded as a result. Theatregoers were presented with some difficulty in reaching their cars;, which in many instances were parked in two feet of water. The only premises- to be entered by the flood was the store, room of Messrs Wallace Supplies shop which faces the East-* ern Strand. In Hamill Bros, garage, Mr A. O'Rourke, who fortunately happened to be working late was able to lift all perishable articles from the floor level in time to same, them from the six-inch flood which' later pour-i ed in. As it was } a great pile of rubble and rock was deposited across the road and on the ramp leading to the second story of the building. This is in the process of being cleared away this morning. The swollen Maraetotara at the other end of the town reached its apex about 11.30 when its after pouring across Messrs Lysaglit's and Pryde's in Anzac" Avenue gouged their way across to Douglas Street where in a swift brown current? it quickly-fi'lled all the low-ly-ing land. The isolated homes included Messrs A. Kinnaird. T. C. Kingsley-Smith F. Prideaux ) T. Chadwick, C. H. P. Wil-4 liams ? A. Taylor and A. Shaw. Fortunately although the water in many instances was only a few inches from floor only one house was that occupied by Mr A. Kinnaird Jun. Losses of. poultry haves been reported but in most instances cattle and fowls were removed Jto places of safety before the waters reached their greatest height. The flood this morning had receded leaving only large pools surrounding the houses and fields which had been invaded. Douglas Street South still has some three feet of water across its surface but should be J negotiable later in the day.