RESULT OF STORM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5000, 14 July 1926, Page 3

RESULT OF STORM.

LITTLE DAMAGE DONE. PHENOMENAL RAINFALL., Following the easterly gale which prevailed during the week-end and Monday, yesterday morning dawned with clear skies and bright sunshine. In a surprisingly short time all signs of storm-water in the majn streets had disappeared, and once again gumboots and pla,nks leading to premises were dispensed with. Despite the heavy rainfall the damage, done locally was small. During the height of the gale several sections of iron ajul board fencing were levelled, some trees and shrub's were up- ' tooted, and minor damage The. greatest inconvenience was caused by the quantity of stormwater that abounded. - The existing drains . were hopelessly inadequate to deal with the, volume of .water that accumulated in a short time. As a consequence the water overflowed at •several points. Near the; Bank of New Zealand corner the water accumulated until there was a de.ep lake, from, which a steady stream flowed along to the Arney Street in- ■ tersection. At this point the inunflat- ' ed area extended across to the. Commercial Hotel, which was surrounded \ for some hours. Still finding no outF let, the water travelled on and banked >up across the road and footpath from the Methodist Church corner to beyond Mr Gamble’s shop. A narrow strip of road above the water was all that remained in that area. Considerable amusement was occasioned spectators who stood by watch-,, ing thirsty souls entering the Commercial Hotel by way of a plank bridge which extended from the mid? die of the road to the hotel door. Even at six o’clock the bridge was W safely negotiated by the many who appeared to have a desire to get wet inside as well as outside, and no “casualties” were Reported. During the period of the heaviest rain the lower end of Belmont Road became awash, and the! water was within a narrow margin |of entering business premises on the southern side of the street. The level ground fronting tha Paeroa Hotel was also inundated for a time. Parts of Puke Road and Waihi Road were.'coveted to a good depth, and motor vehicles negotiated the stretches with difficulty. Near the Russell Street intersection with Waihi Road the water was very deep, and cars got'into difficulties, several having lo ba towed out during the day. The ponding area (from Rye La ( ne > across to the outfall drain carried a . lot of water, and the houses, on Puke ■, Road on the town side of the old gas- • works were flooded. Portions of Thames<and Station roads were also during Monday. \ The residents and retailers took the untoward happening in good part, realising the unprecedented rainfajl had occurred. Fortunately, when matters were-beginning to grow realty alarming a break in the weather • brought welcome relief. OUTSIDE THE BOROUGH. . It is pleasing to report that no damO age occurred at the Puke. Anticipating a big flood, the Public Works Department’s officials made everything secure on Sunday. Even at high tide the river did not reach to l within six inches of the floor cfc the Ngahina ' whayfshed. ' The low-lying country .from Mr R. Stock’s back towards Komata was inundated by storm-water. The heavy rain caused the, drains’to overflow, and the land being -lower than the flooded river, the volume of water was spread over a large area. The Ohinemuri River did not carry _ as much water as it did during the "flood in May last. At mid-day yesterday it had receded to almost the nor T mal mark again. Owing 'to the rain no cargo was taken delivery of from the Taniwha on Monday, but yesterday morning ' there was a steady stream df vehicles between the town and the wharf. THE RAINFALL. ’ Something of a record for rain is revealed 1 by the figures recorded, by the Public Works Department’s rain , gauge at Paeroa. , From Saturday ' midnight to 9 o’clock yesterday morning 8.75 inches were registered. The heaviest fall of rain was recorded during 16 hours on Sunday, when 5.20 inches were registered. CONDITIONS ON THE PLAINS. ■ DAMAGE BY FLOOD-WATER. Fuller details are now available of the effects on the Hauraki Plains of ; the flooding last week-end. It appears, that there was an abnormally high spring tide, a strong 'easterly gale, and several days of _ heavy rain. The gale caused waves r which continually broke over the stob-banks all along the coast, and likewise caused the Waihou River to overflow its banks. This combination of events, together with the abnormal • ; rainfajl, caused an exceptionally high ' flood, for, with the outlets taxed be s yond capacity with waiter from out- - side, they were unable to discharge ’’'the local storm-water which backed up, and inundated land never before covered in the memory of old settlers. Thus the land near and draining into the sea, and the Waihou River suffered the worst, and the land not draining through these areas escaped lightly. . The waters are rapidly receding, and in a few days the drain levels will probably be back to normal, but • the effect of the flooding will probably be noticeable in the sloppy state of the ground until next summer, unless the spring weather is very dry. Prior to the. flood the ground was firm, and the summer cracks were still effective as underground drains. Pasture which is submerged *for. only a day or two will not be injured, but where the grass is long and is covered for an extended period it will rot be spoilt, particularly if there is heavy frost.