SOME LOCAL FLOODING BUT LITTLE DAMAGE FOLLOWS HEAVY RAIN IN THE EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 85, 11 May 1949, Page 5

SOME LOCAL FLOODING BUT LITTLE DAMAGE FOLLOWS HEAVY RAIN IN THE EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY

Farms Submerged

Most rivers broke their banks and on the main highway between Wliakatane and Opotiki cars and buses were delayed because many bridges were not useable. On Monday there was no bus service between Whakatane and Opotiki. The Whakatane-Rotorua highway could be used but a few slips made driving unpleasant. Near Te Puke the roads were difficult to use because of swollen rivers. ' Whipped by a wind that refused to keep blowing from one direction rain just pelted down. In an amazingly short time rivers had risen to such an extent that they were over their banks before some farmers had time to move stock. With the overflow of water the Te Teko-Gal-atea road was washed away leaving a scoured channel 15 feet deep. The Taneatua-Opouriao road was not useable yesterday but it was hoped to be ready for traffic today. Once Bitten . . . With every indication that there was going to be a flood many business houses in Whakatane started making preparations to keep out as much of the water as possible. Barriers at doors were hastily erected and stock was moved from the floor to higher levels. High tide on Monday was at 4.14 p.m. and the river began to rise. It rose to the level of the wharves and then flowed across the road to the Heads. By the Road Services Depot it trickled through the offices and appeared to be making further up the street. At this stage the tide had turned, the rain eased off and the water started to recede. But up country it was a different story. Much of the flat reclaimed area of the Whakatane Harbour Board behind the borough council chambers was under water and gardens at the end of McGarvey’s Road and McAlister Street Suffered, although few houses , were actually entered by water. One end of Landing Road opposite the Board Mills was threatened but the banks held. Paddocks Submerged Along Valley Road to Taneatua farm paddocks beside the river were completely submerged. On the same road the borough pumping station was almost flooded, but two pumps working at top pressure kept it clear. Over on the other road out of Whakatane by the town bridge the river had taken charge at either approach. Swirling water faced vehicles waiting to cross and one car was stranded and not recovered until yesterday. Swept away by the powerful thrust of the river several small dinghies were lost from Whakatane. One resident, Mr F. Cameron, of the Heads, struggled through water chest deep/to recover his craft from the rocks.' Apart from this there was no other loss in the harbour, according to the harbourmaster, Captain G. Carey. As usual Poroporo was one of the first areas to suffer. Water swept around the farms and surrounded one house and approached the store on the turn off to Tauranga but the damage here was slight. Throughout the night the borough staff watched the town and the power was not turned off at 10.30 p.m. Few Stock Losses Out in the country the reported loss of stock is surprisingly small. Many farms have been under water but in most cases farmers have been able to move their animals. To Taneatua and on to Waimana there was very heavy rain. Flooding was slight, but. washouts of the

. - approaches to a bridge over a fill—f ing on the Taneatua-Ruatoki road || has made it/ impassable although '"the county engineer, Mr C. H. Brebner, had hopes of opening it to oneway traffic by this morning. Further towards Waimana in the gorge there were several slips, but these were cleared yesterday. Stanley Road was blocked. About Waimana swollen rivers delayed road transport but the usual services were restored yesterday. In the whole area from to Waimana there had been very heavy rain, but flooding was not serious and there was little damage. Edgecumbe Bridge Held Threatened by the Rangitaiki River at one stage, Edgecumbe had some anxious moments but the river did not rise as high as expected.

Intermittently on Saturday, continuing throughout Sunday and Monday and most of yesterday the Bay of Plenty was swept by heavy rain and strong driving winds that threatened nearly all districts with local flooding. Swollen streams and over flowing rivers testified to the amount of rain that had fallen in the high country, but despite minor flooding little major damage was reported from areas in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. However, damage in the Whakatane County is estimated to be about £3OOO.

However, the main bridge was in danger and Monday and yesterday County Council workmen toiled night and day to keep it clear of heavy logs and other debris. Between Edgecumbe and Te Teko the road was blocked for a very short period while at the Te Teko bridge the river was lapping around either approach to a depth of about 12 inches.

Here again there was some flooding of farms near the river. Between Te Teko and the lake§ there was very little flooding.

Galatea Cut Off Heavy rain hit Galatea and Murppara hard. Flooding was local and damage slight. However that area has now been cut off entirely from Whakatane as part of the road has been washed out.

About halfway through the gorge between Te Teko and Galatea a secluded water fall topples from a great height and passes through a culvert under the road into the Rangitaiki River. Late Monday afternoon the whole cliff, up which some very large trees were growing, slid away. Swept on by water that had apparently been damming up behind

for some time huge rocks and boulders were thrown about like a baby’s rattle on to the road below and then halfway across the river. Force of this collapse can be gauged from the fact that across where the road had been a trench 15 feet deep and 20 feet wide had been gouged out of solid rock. This is the most, serious damage yet reported in the county and the road is not expected to be open for traffic until the week-end. It is proposed to construct a temporary bridge until permanent repairs can be made. Damage Elsewhere Slight Other parts of the Whakatane County managed to escape lightly, Matata and Manawahe having only small flooding. Heavy rain was experienced but the most damage was reported further towards Te *Puke where some parts of the main highway were flooded. On one farm a number of pigs were stranded in the middle of a flooded farm and unless the water receded it was not known whether they would be saved. Along the coast heavy seas lashed the foreshores and at Whakatane Heads huge breakers starting some distance cut rolled in and crashed against the rocks. At one time a beacon guiding the channel was washed away but the others remained firm. Around the coast further to Ohope .waves broke far up the beach and succeeded only in washing part of the foreshore away.