SCENES REMINISCENT OF CASUALTY CLEARING STATION.

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1948, Page 4

SCENES REMINISCENT OF CASUALTY CLEARING STATION.

GISBORNE, May 14. . A fresh crisis in the spillover oi' Waikanae creek in Gisborne separating Victoria township, a suburb running along the foreshore, from the town proper developed this evening when the waters swamped both the Grey Street and Stanley Road bridges and began spfeading rapidly -on both sides oi' the two structures, threateing to maroon many homes. The swift rise of the water 's ekpansion towards the beaeh and the possibility of a dangerons rise in depth at high tide . late td'niglit prompte'd the Borough Council authorities to switeh all municipal buses to the evacuation of families to the town side of the stream. The buses had "to use a circuitoiis I'oute over the railway btidge to the junction of Grey Street to pick up the evaeuees. This route, however, was threatened about 8 o'clock when the bridge, the surface of which was a swirling tnass of water, showed signs of collapsing. One of the approaches was scoured out to a width of four feet threatening to isolate the trlicks and buses in their final trips. Desperate measures to bridge the gap Avith heavy timbers succeeded, enabling the vehicles to reach the town side with difficulty. .The evacuation of Victoria township was followed by scenes reminiscent of a casiialty clearing station as radio calls for the accommodation of refugees were swiftly followed by' hUiidredS of telephoned offers to lodge the unfortunate victims who were first •ti'ansferred to the Salvation Aimiy Hall. At this time the flood surge was hip-deep on the meii wading through the lowest lying areas. The evacuation was direeted by the Mayor (Mr. N. II. Bull) Who later said that all who wished had been moved to the towii side. The people had responded magnificeiitly by offiering accommodation. Many of the others remaining intended to spend the night in the wool store. The Gisborne railway station yards as far oilt as Matawhero, five miles distant, are under two feet of water. "Conditions are very bad down here, 5 ' said the stationmaster (Mr. | Crawford) who lives in Victoria I township. As 1 am speaking the4!* water is lapping the floor." The railcar from the South which reached Muriwai 14 miles out this afternoon was forced to tuni back, but was trapped by slips between Muriwai and the beaeh loop. A special train was sent i'rom Wairoa and the railcar passengers walked over the slips and were takeii back to Wairoa and Nuhaka where they were aecommodated for the night. All the Railway department plione lines are, out of commissiofi and a temporary sorvice is being maintained through the P. and T. Department which is giving priority. The Railway Department thinks it unlikely that the slips on the south line will be cleared before Sunday and that the Motuhora (ContiB.ued on Page 7")..

(Continued from Page 4) 1 i line on which there are extensive slips will be out of commission for four days. Terrific Lightning Bolt. When a lightning bolt hit a Makaraka ho.use early this morning Mr. G. Carlin and his wife narrowly escaped death. The lightning splintered a tree in the garden ancf entered the roOm in which Mr. Carlin and his wife | were sleeping, tore away a curtain and deposited it up a double chimney (at the rear of the house) whieh was lifted bodily out of the house. * A large number of bricks werfc left lying on ihe roof. ' The electrie light wifes b.oth inside and out Avere left in a tangled: mess.