RESULTS OF GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4978, 24 May 1926, Page 2

RESULTS OF GALE.

FLOOD DAMAGE AT PUKE. NETHERTON AND AWAITI ESCAPE. The results of the easterly gale .and flood bn Thursday and Friday last ate now becoming more apparent. The reports tha£ the Netheron and Awaiti districts bad suffered as a result. of the Waihou River overflowing the stop-bank a.re found, on further inquiries being made, to be n°t as serious, as was .at first anticipated. The Awatii district escaped flooding altogether, and except for local stormwater the. Puke end of Netherton 'was also free from Inundation. Near the old cheese, factory at Netherton the river overflowed its bajiks and flooded the low-lying country near the store, but little serious damage was done. • < . , .

Several properties .at Komata were inundated with' flood-water on Friday owing to the river forcing its way through a gap in ,the stop-bank near where the electric dredge is working. Owing to the drains in the Komata having been recently cleajned and deepened the storm-water made good its escape, a ; nd the by the river silt to the pastures is not thought to be very heavy. The river at the Puke rose to an unprecedented height. The Public Works, Department’s workmen spent an arduous time in launches .and boats securing timber, plant, and machinery. Other than the loss of some 46ft Oregon pine planks little; damage resulted.

Once again, the water surrounded Mr R. Stock 4 s‘unr.’ts residence at the Puke, but fortunately the water did not enter the; house.

Mr W. Urry, whose' farm adjoins Mrs J. Thorp’s at the . Puke, lost fifteen head of cattle and a farm horse 'early on Friday morning. It! appears that the cattle were grazing on a promontory between the old Ohine.muri meander and the river proper, when the flood came dawn and cut them off from the main land. The cattle were drowned before a resfcue could be effected. The families of. Messrs Vincent, Davies, and Lynhurst, on Waihi Road just, past St. Mary’s Chijrch, spent an anxious time, and' the flood-waters invaded the three residences to a depth of over a foot, doing considerable damage. Other than this, no damage from flooding has taken pla.ee in the borough. The stop-banks on the left-hand side of the Ohinemuri* River held well, and 'for -the first time for many winters, Moananui’s Flatt was reported to be quite free pif river water. The river on Friday all erno °n subsided almost as quickly as: it rose, and it is now back almost .to normal depth.