ANOTHER EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4704, 28 May 1924, Page 2

ANOTHER EASTERLY GALE.

AREAS AGAIN FLOODED.

Stop-Banks Broached at Netherton.

Railway Washouts and Road Slips.

The easterly gale which commenced during Sunday night continued throughout Monday up till aboutjnidnight, heavy rain falling incessantly during that period. Before mid-day on Monday the Ohinemuri River was a raging torrent, and in the early afternoon all the low-lying areas in and around the town were well under water for the second time this year. So far as the river was concerned on Monday afternoon, there was not a great deal of damage done, but with the rain increasing as the day wore on it became a raging torrent and commenced to overflow its banks at several places, Messrs Barretts’ and Buchanan’s properties on the Waihi Road side of the river were just a sheet of water. On the other side of the river the flood water rushed through a gap in the stop-hank near Mr Coxhead’s residence, and in a very short time the whole of his property, a,s well as the Chinese gardens, Mrs Nicholl's, and Mr Vtlglar’s holdings, became covered with water across to the other side of the Waihi railway line. Despite the fact that Mr Coxnead nas recently moved his hous? some chains from its former site nearer the stop-bank, the water entered the house to a depth of nine inches, A wash-house which was detached from the house was washed from its foundations and swept a distance of two chains away. The property of Messrs Thorp Bros, also suffered considerable damage. "he residences of Messrs C. Vincent and J. Couper, on the Waihi road near the Convent, were also, flooded oW. The occupants of these houses were wise in vacating them during the afternoon, as by evening the river had risen to such an extent that over two feet of water was flowing through them. Although everything movable in the houses was stacked ip as high as possible the occupiers are heavy losers owing to the damage caused by the silt and debris brought down by the river.

The low-lying portions of Normanby Road were again submerged, particularly those portions from Rbbson’s store to the intersection of Russell Street, and-from Arney Roa 1 across to the Commercial Hotel and along to RCorringham’s shop. Other than considerable inconvenience to ihe tradespeople and pedestrians little damage is recorded. Profiting by the experience of the previous flood, the edge of the footpath fronting Messrs Gamble’s and Wallace and Co’s, premises was again torn up, the fissure acting as a .safety vent and allowing the water to escape by flowing under the buildings and put into the drain in Willoughby Street. In Belmont Road, in the vicinity of the approach to the railway station, the storm water entered the premises of the Dolly Varden and Mrs Warren’s, and across to the Paeioa Hotel, where the verandah was awash. In Station Road many of the residents spent an anxious time, but although surrounded by watei' none entered the homes. Messrs Phillip and Co’s, sawmill was s.urroimded, and partly submerged, but the machinery, suffered little damage. The outlet drain crossing Rye Lane was unable to cope with the storm water, and the land from the quarry out towards the river was covered with water. The temporary repairs effected, to the traffic abridge in Rye Lane withstood the strain, out a small wash-out took place on the road near the bridge. The houses on Puke Road suffered severely, water entering several of them. Portions of Thames Road from the Racing Club’s stables' to Bennett Street were under water. The only damage, done within the town area comprises fences, hedges, and garden shrubs blown down, a few panes of glass broken, some roofing iron loosened, and general damage to private gardens. Mejisurements taken' by the Public Wrn-ks Department of the river at the Cri’rrion Bridge registered just over 27 feet, which is not considered a record for the height of a flood. DAMAGE TO COUNTY ROADS. As was to be expected, the various roads in the Ohinemuri County have been severely damaged as a result of the storm. On the Paeroa-Te Aroha main road near Hennah’s Hill the road has been undermined for some distance, and a small bridge, on the Te Aroha side of the Waitoki bridge, has been swept away. Near Mr Mace’s property at Mangaiti the road has been washed away in two places, and a culvert damaged. It is expected that it will be about three days before the road will be fit again for motor traffic. The Paeroa-Waihi road was also severely damaged in a number of places, A slip of large dimensions took place just past the old Karangahake post office, completely blocking the road. There were also a number of slips in the gorge, one of the largest being where Rahu Road joins the main road. A large amount of debris has fallen across the road, and there have been several small erosions in the road beyond the gorge. It is expected that it will be a week before the road can be repaired sufficiently to allow vehicular traffic to pass over it. The main road from Paeroa to Hi’ utaia, although under water in some parts, is passable for traffic. On the Komata Reefs ropd two slips have been reported. The first one is about a mile from the main road, and the .second about a mile and a half nearer the Reefs. The first slip is reported

to be a big one, and will pouably take several days to be removed. Nearly all the subsidiary roads in the Kai- ’ manawa riding are under, water, and the exact extent of the damage done has not yet been ascertained. The road to the Puke was under water to a depth of several feet in the vicinity of Whitmore's drain all day yesterday, and traffic had considerable difficulty in getting through.' Apart from the loose metal being washed off no erosions have taken place. The county chairman, Mr A. R. Robinson, and the engineer, Mr E. Shaw, have matters well in hand, and every endeavour is being made to effect speedy repairs. The settlers on the left bank of the Ohinemuri’ River on the low-lying areas in the vicinity of Pereniki’s Bend spent an anxious time on Monday evening. The river overflowed its banks at this point, completely submerging the properties of Messrs W. Chamberlain, M. McLeod, Haora Tarear.ui, and others, all of whom are heavy losers as a result of silt and debris. HIKUTAIA FLOODED. The township portion of Hikutaia suffered severely during the height of ‘he gale on Monday. The Hikutaia Creek overflowed, its banks at the bend behind the Pioneer Hotel, and as a result the water broke across the paddocks and out oji to the main road, which was completely submerged for a considerable distance. Water swept through the hotel, entering at the rear of the building and out through the front on to the main road. Mr Hannanfs butcher’s shop was surrounded, as also was the new post office, but although the water reached the height of the steps, it did not enter either building. An anxious time was spent in keeping the water out of Messrs Maxwell and Brash’s grocery store. The water flowed over the front verandah, and but for the prompt measures adopted in pulling down a closely paled fence fronting the shop and letting the water through to the paddocks, the damage would have been far greatei. As it was, it is understood that the force of the water moved an outbuilding off its foundations. KAIMANAWA AREA. Practically the whole of the Kaimanawa riding was under water yesterday, Owing to the high flood in the Waihou River blocking up the mam Komata outfall drain, the water could not escape fast enough, with the result that it overflowed its banks, inundating all the low ground. WHARFSHEDS AWASH. Conditions at the Puke reached a rather alarming stage during Monday atempon and evening, and it was only with considerable difficulty and risk that the wharf could be reached early yesterday morning. During Monday the Northern Stekm Ship Company’s local agent, Mr J. W. Sileock. and his staff, moved the cargo in- the shed to what they considered a position above the reaches of flood water. Grills were used, and the cargo was stacked well off the floors. Owing to the rapid rise of the river flooding the approach to the wharf the carriers could not get delivery of all the cargo, and a fair quantity of goods had to remain in the shed. In an interview yesterday Mr SHcock stated that the flood water over the wharf and in the shed had beaten all previous records by nearly fourteen inches. A few tons of cement, bags of potatoes, and some case goods have been damaged. The s,s. Taniwha arrived from Auckland at 8.30 o'clock this morning and brought a full cargo and a number of passengers. There is still a wide strip of water lying between the road and the wharf, and passengers had to be ferried across from the wharf to waiting motor-cars on the road. SEVERE DAMAGE AT NETHERTON. Early yesterday morning, when the river was in high flood, the left stopbank broke away in two places about a chain below the Ngahina bridge and completely flooded the lower portion of Netherton. A serious loss of dairy stock and pigs has taken place by drowning, and the pastures for miles round in that district have been seriously damaged. The flood water entered a number of the settler’s homes, some to a depth of over three feet. Included in those who have been seriously affected are Messrs Goble, Dunlop, Gwllliam, Death, Taylor, Hobart, Brooks, Chester, Wilson, Laughlin, Reid, Osborne, and others. Now the river has broken its banks tlmre is a large volume of water flowing along the H drain, completely submerging the country on both sides. The properties of Messrs Dean, • Simms, and Handley have also Buffer-, _ ed considerable damage.. Mrs E. A. Chester and family, who reached Paeroa last night, were res?; curd by means of a boat, which was / rowed across-country to the river, where the Public Works Department’s launch picked them up and brought . them across the river to the Puke last night. Tn an interview with Chester this morning a vivid descrip-' tlon of the conditions at Netherton yesterday was obtained. It appears \ that once the river broke through the

stop-bank at the Puke the whole area was quickly flooded, and little time was given in which to rescue stock and drive the animals te higher ground. In some instances stock had to be moved several, times, as the water rose. Mrs Chester states that they remained in their house until the water rose to nearly two feet, when an S.O.S. call was sent to Mr SJ. Laughlin, on the adjoining farm, who rescued the party in a boat, taking them to his own residence, where they, remained until the afternoon, when the water appeared to be still rising, and it was deemed advisable to get out. The boat was again requisitioned, and Mrs Chester and family were rowed across-cquntry to the river, and finally brought into Paeroa. There is no telephone communication with Netherton as yet, and UP to the time of going to press further details of the damage done were not available. It is understood that the Waihou River overflowed its banks at Tirohia, ’and that a , large volume of water is practically covering the Await! district. and that there, also, the settlers have been forced to hurriedly remove their stock to higher'ground. This morning the flood water has subsided a little, but there is still a vast amount on the properties, and it has not yet been possible^for the settlers to estimate the damage done. WASH-OUTS ON RAILWAY. A number of wash-outs have taken place on the railway line between Te Aroha and Thames, and there are also several slips and washouts on the Waihi section. Between Paeroa and Te Aroha the most serious washout occurred near Mangaiti. Passengers from the Waikato by the “Wildcat” on Monday night had thrilling experience. They were warned before leaving. Te Aroha that they would be taken on to Paeroa at their own risk, and a number made the trip. On arrival at the scene of the wa?-h-out the passengers had to be carried across the floooded portion to a waiting train on the Paeroa side, which reached Paeroa shortly after 11 p.m. A Passenger yesterday morning spcke in glowing terms of the assistance given by the railway surfacer men in transferring passengers from one train to the other. Some thirty additional men were employed on the various wash-outs on this section yesterday, and as a result of their endeavours a through train arrived from Hamilton last night. Near Hikutaia, on the PaeroaThames section, the line was undermined by water for a distance of about sixty chains, and as a consequence there have been no trains able to get beyond Hikutaia since Monday. It is expected that temporary repairs will be effected to-day, and there is a possibility of a train j etting through to Thames some time to-day. The damage done to the Waihi line is of a more serious nature, and the time-table on this , section has been st impended meantime. It is not yet known definitely when trains will be able to get through, . MAIL SERVICES. There was some disorganisation in the receipt and despatch of mails at •the local post office yesterday owing to the various railway services being suspended. On inquiry from the postd<ster this morning it was learned that the usual services had been restored. An ‘exceptionally heavy mail arrived from Auckland by the s.s. laniwlia this morning, and a large i utwaid mail was cleared for Thames and Auckland this afternoon. The mails between Paeroa and Waihi are being maintained by motorcars satisfactorily. The public are i equested to post all mail m atter as soon as it is ready, to save delay in its desptch from Paeroa.Teiephonecommunication with Hamilton, Te' Aroha, Auckland, and Thames was temporarily suspended for a time yesterday, but Mr McJ'ougall advises that communication ) as now been established, although there is some delay and difficulty in getting in touch with Auckland.