Opotiki Flood Damage May Exceed £50,000

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 13

Opotiki Flood Damage May Exceed £50,000

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 6. The flood which swept through Opotiki and surrounding districts yesterday has caused damage so far estimated at about £50,000. However, when detailed reports'come in it is considered that this figure will be considerably higher.

Mr E. H. Penton, an Opotiki draper, estimated his loss at between £5OOO and £BOOO. Two other businessmen who also lost a considerable amount of property are Messrs D. G. Dawson, a draper, and Oswald Brothers, booksellers. The latter had to dump hundreds of new books, dozens of fountain pens, and sets of crockery which were smashed. Mr Periton told a story common to all. “We did not get any warning,” he said. “The first we knew was that floodwaters were running down Church street. “It was 3ft deep by the time I got to my shops. We tried to open the doors, but the water had lifted the linoleum, making them difficult to open. Goods were floating in the muddy water. Some goods we placed on higher shelves, but those we thought safe were overtaken by the rising waters and a lot fell into it at the peak of the flood. There was

not much we could do except wait.”

A volunteer fleet of truck owners and drivers saved the possessions of many householders in a low-lying part of the town where homes were invaded by a foot of water. At Opotiki College silt to a depth of three to four inches covered the floors. Fifth and six form pupils, staff members, and outside volunteers soon had the school cleaned out. Because of difficulties with drainage the school will remain closed until Thursday. Bridge Washed Away Tirohanga. a small settlement about five miles down the coast from Opotiki, was the worst-hit area of the county. A 120 ft wooden bridge was washed away, and another tilted on its piles. A large house was pushed about 20 yards from its foundations by a landslide, but not before the occupants were able to escape. Further down the coast, at Motu, where the rainfall exceeded 15in for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday, the coast road was rendered impassable by slips. The road was reopened early this afternoon. The main Opotiki-Gisborne highway through the Waioeka gorge was blocked by 46 slips at daylight today, and was not expected to be open before Wednesday.