MUCH DAMAGE DONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 3

MUCH DAMAGE DONE

CLOUDBURST IN OTAGO. SEVERAL ORCHARDS SUFFER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, November 8. At 6 o’clock tonight a cloudburst occurred at Coal Creek Flat with very serious results. The well-known orchard of Fairview belonging to Mr John Bennetts suffered most extensively, some 15 acres of fruit trees being destroyed. The flooded creek carried everything before it and where the waters swept through there is now only a boulder-strewn waste. Several other properties also suffered heavy damage to fruit trees, sheds and implements and in one or two cases there were narrow escapes from loss of life. In Roxburgh 56 points of rain fell in about three-quarters of an hour. In December, 1931, a similar cloudburst occurred, but on that occasion the damage was practically confined to Fairview orchard. On the Fairview Estate the men’s living quarters were directly in the path of the flood, and the men had to make a hurried exit. In an interview this evening one of the men said that on hearing a booming noise, he rushed outside and saw a wall of water approaching the building. He gave the alarm and the other three occupants rushed to safety without taking time to snatch any of their personal belongings.

No sooner were they clear of the path of the water than the building was struck by a huge boulder and shattered. The ruins were swept away. Thousands'of tons of rock must have been displaced by the force of the water as it rushed down the valley. Mr S. T. Knewstubb’s house received some damage to the interior. About three feet of silt and stones were deposited in the grounds in front of the house and the roadline in the vicinity was obliterated. In the same locality similar damage was done to Birchdale Estate, where new sheepyards, a shed and implements were severely damaged. Mr R. Bennett’s house was directly in the path of the storm-waters, where they broke through the creek banks, and he was fortunate in getting his family out of harm’s way before the flood reached its height. At this stage it is very difficult to estimate the full extent of the damage, but every orchard in the district has suffered. Mr J. Matheson’s property is covered with stones and other debris and the residences of Messrs G. Toms and A. Allen were surrounded by water. Extensive damage was caused on Mr L. Manuel’s property, which is also littered with boulders, and Mr W. Manuel’s orchard also suffered, three or four acres being badly damaged. Mr M. McAuley was another sufferer, and damage is also reported on Mr A. H. Tamblyn and Mr D. Thomas’s properties.

As a result of the cloudburst, a large slip occurred on the Milton-Queenstown road, making the route impassable to motorists. A gang of men was working on the road throughout the night and it was hoped that it would be cleared tomorrow.