TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 488, 23 March 1933, Page 5

TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

DISLOCATION OF SERVICES Taumarunui, Wednesday. A terrific downpour of rain between eight o'clock and midnight last night caused widespread damage in the Taumarunui district and the most serious dislocation of services in the history of the main trunk line. The limited express from Auckland, which was derailed a mi'le north of Okahukura, was carrying 120 passengers, who miraculously escaped ihjury. The express passed over a subsidence, and about 40 feet of rail shot into the air bejiind the train. The small wheels of the engine were buried in the earth, and the front bogey of the following carriage went off the rails, also the van a»t the rear of the train. Though the couplings broke the other carriages remained on the line and the lighting system was not affected. The passengers remained on the train overnight. A relief train went out from Taumarunui early this morning, and the passengers arrived here between 8 and 9 o'clock. A slip one mile north of Taringamotu impeded the progress of a goods train, which had to be hauled back to Taumarunui. The line is being cleared by gangs, for a relief train to go through and get the limited's passengers. Every available man was despatched to the scene immediately. It will be some time before the line is cleaiq and meanwhile a service is being maintained from Frankton to Ongarue. The train from Stratford arriving at Taumarunui at midnight was delayed by several slips on the line between Ohura and Matiere, and the service has been closed down meanwhile Express Runs Into Slip The express train from Wellington which reaches Taumarunui at 12.30 a.m. ran into a slip near Oio, and the engine buried its nose in the mud, but there was no derailment. Subsequently the line was cleared, and the train proceeded to Owhango, where it was held up by further slips and wash-outs between Owhango and Taumarunui. Ten slips are reported between Owhango and Kakahi, and the line is scoured for some distance between Manunui and Taumarunui. The limited from Wellington was held at Ohakune. The heavy warm rains which fell for five hours in the National Park area yesterday brought snow down the rivers, and this, together with last night's heavy local downpour, caused the Wanganui river to overflow its banks at midnight. The hydro-electric works at Piriaka were flooded and the light failed at one o'clock this morning. The plant is still out of action. The river swept over the groynes between the Matapuna bridge and the Taumarunui main road, and the Taumarunui saleyards and the Matapuna bridge were under water. A Raging Torrent The stream swept on in a raging torrent, and an area known as the flat was completely inundated. The recreation ground nearby was soon a sea of water. The Mayor, Mr. G. A. Boles, realising the danger, organised rescue parties, headed by the fire brigade and the police, and practically every house on the flat and at Matapuna was evacuated.. The water was almost waist deep in some streets on the flats, also in the houses. The failure of the eleetric light made rescue work difficult. The current was so strong that many women, most of whom were in their sleeping attire, had to be- assisted by the rescuers. The water seemed to rise in a few minutes, with the result that people could not save their ' belongings. Many, unaware of the danger, were awakened by the reseuers to find their beds surrounded. by water. Some Narrow Escapes One rescuer found a boy flounder-

ing in deep water, and saved him from drowning. In another instance a rescuer him- , self disappeared in a deep wash-out on the flat, and had to swim out. The people of Taumarunui rose to the occasion, and dozens of cars arrived on the scene in the early hours of the morning to take the reseued to warm beds. Following yesterday's stock sale, large numbers of cattle and sheep were accommodated in the stock paddocks near the saleyards. Of these 120 sheep were drowned, and some cattle are missing. At daybreak cattle were seen swimming down the Wanganui river. Flood Waters Suhside The flood reached its highest point at 3 a.m., and thereafter subsided. Very little rain fell after midnight, and the weather is now fine. In the outlying districts much damage is reported. Many bridges are down, and there are slips and washouts all over the country. The main highway north is blocked by large wash-outs a mile from Taumarunui, and there is another wash-out in the south near the powerhouse at Piriaka.