CAR SWEPT AWAY IN TORRENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 2 July 1937, Page 9

CAR SWEPT AWAY IN TORRENT

-Fress Associatlon.)

Crashes Into Water Where Bridge Collapsed THE NORTHLAND FLOODS

Bs Telearaph-

WHANGAREI, Last Night. At 3.30 two families living in a house in Railway road were awakened by the battering of logs against the walls. The flood water was then a foot deep in tlie bedrooms, and rising. Mr. T. R. Maunsell and Mr. and Mrs H. Karau faced the neeessity of swimming in the dark to save tliemselves and their six infant children. They found refuge in the Town Hall. Two families lost their bedding and clo thing except what they wore. Poto Ave.nue houses were invaded, bnt no one had to move out. Householders in Walton street had to evacuate the pre-mi'-es for a period. In one house the water was flowing th,rougb the back windows, "While driving home to Whangarei in the early hours, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Graue had a narrow escape owing to the washing-away of a bridge. Their car crashed into the flooded torrent and was swept dow-nstream. Eventually it was caught on a post. Th doors were i-pened with diffieulty, and the ocoupants, elutching branches of a pine tree, pulled themselves out of the water. They escaped with a wetting, but the new car was not recovered. T)ie worst flooding occurred at Hikurangi, where there was water two feet deep in some homes. l'wo landslides occurred on the hills bohind th8 railway station, blocking ihe creek, which suddenlv broke through, disgorging a mass of water across the station yards and through the dairy faetory into the township. The water was three feet deep in the main streets. The damage to the Lomas store is estimated at £300. Other premises also suffered severely. The hotel was also imaded, and six cows beloriging to the proprietor were drowned in an adja"ent pacld.ock. The town water supply was damaged.