HUGE LANDSLIP

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1928, Page 1

HUGE LANDSLIP

RIVER COMPLETELY BLOCKED. AUCKLAND, Aug. 2. One result of the recent heav; rains is the formation of a lake oi the Waiau river, near Coromandel about.a quarter of a mile below Waiai Falls, telegraphs the “Star’s” Thame: correspondent. A'huge landslip eami down into the bed of the Waiai stream and completely blocked the old course and resulted in the formatior of a lake. The waters having beer backed up nearly 300 yards and confined by cliffs on tbe Coromandel side, have spread out over tbe adjoining paddocks. It is difficult to say what tbe outcome of this blocking of the stream bed will be, but there must be an enormous weight of water above the slip and it is just n question whether the material of which the slip is composed will settle into a solid mass, thus creating a lake permanently, or whether the accumulated weight of the pent up water will force its way through the slip and cause something similar to the bursting of a dam. Lower down the Waiau stream lias changed its course and lias been flooding paddocks on Tiki Flat and near Mr Mann ion’s place. It lias completely washed away the road on the northern side. It is now washing right up against Mr Root’s fence and appears to ho eroding tbe bank fast. Should the waters of the newly-formed lake burst througb.it is thought they will wash away the Waiau bridge, which is said to be already weakened by the recent floods. Settlers in the district state that the only solution appears to be the cutting of a canal from the bend in the stream to the old course which will cut out tbe Waiau bridge, but this would necessitate a now bridge being erected. An old settler states that unless immediate action is taken the next fresh will “settle” the Waiau bridge.