DOWNPOUR AND FLOOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 1, 19 July 1946, Page 5

DOWNPOUR AND FLOOD

LARGE AREA UNDER WATER TOWN AND COUNTRY SUFFER .. / LAST NIGHT’S STORM One oi| the most continuous rainstorms experienced l in this district for a long time occurred last evening when from approximately 7 p.m. a downpour of tropical proportions continued unabated until 11 p.m. The town gauge showed three and a half inches of rain recorded, and the result was widespread flooding throughout the entire Whakatanc area. The eastern business section of the town was again siib-.. merged when a torrent of flood water from the Wairere stream aproximately 18 inches deep swept down the Strand to the sea. In the suburban district, the Maraetotara again left its banks, and its waters covered the whole of Allandale. Sheets of surface water by midnight had covered miles of the low-lying areas on the Rangitaiki Plains, and numerous minor instances of flooding have been reported., As we go to press, nothing of a serious nature has come to hand, but from rumours regarding the outer plains and adjoining valleys, we understand that serious washouts have occurred.

Ohope Beach, again experienced the full force of the downpour, and the two streams fording Pohutukawa Avenue have gouged six foot channels across t!ie road, making it necessary to divert all traffic to the temporary bridges.

In the Borough, the dual floods occurred simultaneously. At approximately 10.45 p.m. the Maraetotara overflowed from the Valley Road bridge, and commenced pouring down Goulstone Road. As the volume increased, it appeared that a damming of the water was taking place, and a sudden gush swept through the whole of Anzae Avenue and Douglas Street, invading as far as lower Salonika Street. All householders were aroused and although sections were covered in many cases to a depth of well over two feet, in no single instance did the water reach floor level. The worst to suffer were Messrs. Prideaux, Chadwick, Brebner, Woolliams, and Mrs Lucas (Douglas Street); Messrs. J. and A. Kinnaird (Salonika Street); Messrs. J. Love, Clarke ( Bryenton, Pryde and Gillman (Anzac Avenue). Lower Alexandria Avenue was covered to a depth of well over three feet, whilst a raft of logs accumulated on the Western side of the Douglas Street bridge.

In the business area the first overflow from the road culvert beneath the Wairere Falls was noticed by the nightwatchman, Mr A. Kinnaird just before 11 p.m. The gush across the road was steadily increasing as the vent proved totally inadequate to cope with the roaring mass which, by this time, was teeming over the cliff. He took the precaution of notifying the exchange and the operator obligingly informed all proprietors that a serious flood was likely in a few minutes. Within a quarter of an hour, the eastern Strand was transformed into a raging brown torrent which it was impossible to stand against. Debris of all kinds was swept down the footpaths and into alley ways, whilst the accumulated waters assumed a depth of over 4wo feet opposite the taxi office of J. McComb. The flood lasted approximately 20 minutes, but in that time the waters had forced their way through •closed doors of all business premises in their path, and flooding to a greater or lesser degree took place in approximately 25 instances. Many of the business people concerned arrived as soon as it was possible to reach ' their premises, and until two and three a.m. this morning, were engaged in sweeping away silt and flood water.

Down the Strand itself, a heavy layer of silt was deposited many inches thick, whilst against verandah posts, in numerous instances, great piles of branches and debris had accumulated. „

From enquiries this morning, we learn that the damage has been surprisingly light although it is impossible to get a full report at this early juncture. Borough Council workmen, as we go'to press ate busy clearing up "the scene of the flood, which is In no way to be compared with