HOKITIKA SUFFERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 8

HOKITIKA SUFFERS

TORRENTIAL RAINFALL „ HEAVY STOCK LOSSES (Per Press Association.) GR.EYMOUTH, this day. Heavy rains for two days brought exceptional flooding in Westland rivers, particularly in Hokitika and the Little Wanganui, also in the La Fontaine Rivers in the Harihari district. Some Hokitika streets on Wednesday were inundated and yesterday at 1 p.m. the river was 14in higher and the street flooding was more extensive. Protective works on the south side of the Hokitika River mouth were washed seawards and a large sandbank at the entrance also disappeared. The Kokatahi Valley farming area was extensively flooded, while a flood in the Arahura River was prevented by the recent protective works from inundating the farms in South Westland. Rivers in several ‘instances broke their banks, while at Harihari the Little Wanganui River cut through the protective bank and ioined the La Fontaine, causing loss of live stock. The road to the settlement was under nearly five feet of water, which rose four feel in the residence of one settler. The Harihari Valley resembled a lake. There was steady rain in the Grey district. Rivers were swollen, but no damage is renorted except a slip on the Otira road at Jackson’s. The total rainfall for the 24 hours was two inches.