AN EXCEPTIONAL FLOOD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4707, 4 June 1924, Page 4

AN EXCEPTIONAL FLOOD.

HALF OF PLAINS INUNDATED. PIAKO RISING STEADILY. Not since lUir. Has the llauraki Plains been subjected to such a flooding as al present. The abnormal rainfall of last week inundated a considerable portion, but now greater devastation is being caused by water from the Waihou River. Between Tirohia and Mangaiti the stop-banking has not been completed, gaps having been left for completion by dredges where it was not possible to work horses owing to the nature of the ground. Through these gaps the flood water has poured. A high ridge of land between the Piako and the Awaiti stream divided the stream near the 'Otway ' settlement. One branch proceeded west to l the Waitoa and Piako rivers, and the other proceeded iiorth down the Awaiti basin. This latter stream went across settled country, which has now been transformed into a wide, spreading sea. Looking south from Kerepeehi the whole country seems inundated. On Friday the water caihc down from the Awaiti, behind Netherton, and crossed the road on both sides of the Netherton Hall and rejoined the river.

The Awaiti stream, which joins the Piako River at Kerepeehi, is usually little more than a slowly moving creek which eventually loses itself in the peat. Now it is a broad expanse of turbulent water.

The Piako River has been rising steadily during the past week, and at Kerepeehi on Sunday morning was about three feet above the average height of the land on the Plains. The Lands Department's automatic tide register at Kerepeehi has been rendered useless for the time being, as

the indicator is higher than the scale. As the tides arc now increasing towards spring tides the outlook is not promising. On Sunday morning the stop-bank on Mr Loach’s farm, above Ngatea, gave way and water poured on to the land at a depth of liedrly three feet al the breach, c.uickly inundating the farms down to the Ngatea bridge. This break may be the foreniivner of others.

In the upper readies of the Piako river the whole country for miles is under water, and much loss of cattle am! pigs is feared.

It is more by good luck than good management that iatuichmen keep to the river, for though it is possible to sail across-country, ■ there is the danger of becoming lost or of having the propeller fouled. One man tells of sailing right oyer a rcttlvr’s wharf. While the greater. portion of the laud in this area is not settled, considerable portions are used as grazing runs, particularly during the winter months. The loss of this glazing wilt add to the hardship of those fafmers who look to this countiy to carry iheir stock during the winter.

In the Awaiti settlement the water on Sunday had fallen a lew inches, and was only over the main roads at a few places. The by-roads from Wilson’s Road southward were mostly under water. Not a blade of grass could lie seen in any direction. All the stock had been removed, the Lands Drainage Engineer havingfound grazing for many settlers at Komata and Waitakaruru, while many had sent their cows through Paeroa.

Many dead pigs could.be seen from the road. Pigs and poultry were camped on the verandahs of many settlers’ homes. A man in thigh-boots was noticed feeding his fowls as they perched on a rail of a stockyard. As far as could be seen from the main road the water was not then in any of

the houses, but how those farther back were faring . could only be i guessed. The depth of the water ap- ! pcared, by the look of the fences, fo , be much deeper than nearer the road, i In the older settled portions of the | Netherton district conditions have im- | proved somewhat. Water has ceased j to come through the breach in the i stop-bank below the Puke bridge, and much of flic land is now dry. Only | al two points between the bridge and I the Netherton school is water flowing across the road. If there were as many drains in this area as in other parts of the Plains it would now be compai alively d.ry, as the Waihou River has fallen considerably. The H dram is running like a mountain torrent. While very many aergs are still under water, the loss to farmers will not be so great as in other districts were the country hits been, and will be for some time, so flooded that the pastures will be ruined. A« in other damage has been caused by driftwood and silt. In the northern portions of the Plains comparatively little damage has so far been caused. However, the adnormal height of the Piako River at all slates of the tide is keeping storm water from getting away. At Ngatca on Sunday evening water from the back areas had backed up to such an extent that it covered the road to the factory for a short distance. The flooding of farm lands, even if only lor a short period, will have a effect on the supply of "winter feed, particularly if frost fol- - lows. PIAKO STILL RISING. Telegraphic advice from our representative at Ngatea ..this morning stated that the Piako River was still rising, and a portion of the road be ; tween the Ngatea bridge and McDuff’s corner was under water. The land on the north side of the road was also flooded It appears that the flood water from Ngarua reached Ngatea late last night, the farms on either side of the river being inundated to a depth of several feet. As the water was- all round the school at Ngatea this morning the children were sent home after roll-call. Only a few inches of tide effect are noticed at Ngatea.