FLOOD DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1920, Page 3

FLOOD DAMAGE

several lives LOST. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Alatthews, his wife and five children who were living in a temporary cottage close to the river at the railway settlement, upper Paparoa Valley, some four miles from Paparoa were awakened at 4 a.m. by water which had reachtheir beds. Matthews swam ashore with the baby and returning he placed the others on the’dwelling. The flood carried the cottage away" and all were thrown into the swirling water. The father was able to rescue another child. .By this time the wife and anbther j child had disappeared. Their bodies j were recovered later, j Pearce, a resident of the settlement was seen at daylight syimming towards the railway bank. He disappeared and his body'was recovered later. One man saved himsel by climbing a tree and was rescued after 6 hours. Another saved Bis life by climbing to a floating hut, until lie could jump on to a friendly embankment. A woman was rescued from a tree to which she had clung in her night attire, holding an infant. Several others had to refuge in trees and were fortunate to come through' the ordeal alive. One of these, Mrs Cook, is suffering considerably from shock.

i It is feported from Waipu Gorge that a motor car dashed into a gap left hv a partly demolished bridge. The car was wrecked, and the body of one occupant, a returned soldier, has been found. The loss of life is unknown. The chief sufferers by the flood at Paparoa are Graff (leaker), Sutherland (Boarding house), Wilkins (telephone exchange), C. Taylor (lime works manager). The first three were surprised by the rapidly rising waters, between 5 and 6 a.m. and telephoned to neighbours for help. Tlie latter were unable to render assistance as they were isolated by flood water. At Sutherland’s boarding house women sought refuge in the attic. The water rose about throe feet above the floors and then commenced to subside after seriously damaging the bouse and furniture and carrying away the outbuildings. Jordan (blacksmith) had a narrow escape. He sleeps in the office attached to the shop and awoke to find the water washing in the room. He donned his clothes and swam to the hoarding house. Considerable damage lia? been clone to construction work. Several bridges on the road from Alaungaturoto wore swept away! Communication with Pa-paroa township by Vehicle is practically blocked by the damaged bridges and' landslides.

] 1 EiPORTED HAI’PENING S. YVHANGAREI, This Day

Torrential storm burst over Whangarei on Friday night and by midnight floods had reached the height of houses in the low-lying parts of the town, causing serious damage by inundation. The storm was renewed. with great fury on Saturday morning and the rivers in all parts of the coiintn lose to an exceptional height. A number of bridges were washed away and serious losses of stock caused. It is reported that five men lost their lives at Sfaungaturoto. But this is not yet confirmed. The general damage will run into many thousands. The electric powers work at Wairoa Falls was also flooded. Tlie concrete walls were keeping the water out, but the river rose so high that it was feared the pressure would cause collapse, so water was allowed in and the town was plunged into darkness on Sturday night. The light is now restored. Train services with the liortli were also interrupted on Saturday and shipping held up. The Mana with Sir Janies Allen on board, could not leave harbour but it is understood she left the shelter oi tlie Heads at 6 a.m.. on Sunday.

News is slowly filtering in but much lacks confirmation. One rumour just received is that a family living in a tent at Hauraru was swept away. Tlie weather is now fine but overcast.