VAST WATERSPOUT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10066, 12 March 1924, Page 7

VAST WATERSPOUT

HAWKE’S BAY FLOODED

16 INCHES OF DELUGE.

TWO LIVES LOST,

(Per Press Association.)

NAPIER, March 11. Rain probably heavier than ever before experienced in Hawke’s Bay to-day caused the loss of human' life, heavy losses of stock, and great damage to property. Sixteen inches of Deluge. The extent of the deluge will he realised by the fact that 9£ inches of rain were recorded between 9 o’clock and 6 p.m., and at Eskdale, 13 miles up the East Coast railway, 16 inches fell in the same period. At Whana Whan a, back from Hastings, a kerosene tin filled to the extent of 11 inches in one hour during a cloudburst. In Napier during the heaviest falls the main streets were flooded, and water found its way into numerous shops; but the damage there was not great. In some instances water got through the upper stories of shops, and stocks had to be removed to dry spots. During intervals between the torrential downpours surface water ran off the streets but again banked up. Council employees are patrolling all night to keep the channels clear. Tramway traffic is stopped, due to a short circuit or some such defect allowing water to earn 7 the current, and people clutching handrails to board or alight from cars received unpleasant shocks. Child Trapped.

A fall of earth from a high bank in Shakespeare Road smashed in the rear of a house and moved the whole building six feet toward the road. Members of the family were standing at the front door when the crash came, and one child, about two years of age. ran inside and was trapped by the fall. The others made good their escape. A band of workers making efforts in a dreadful sea of mud and smashed timber were unable to find the child, who must inevitably be dead. . .. Man Washed Aw2y in Hut.

Thomas Hill, an employee at the Public Works camp at Waipunga, on the East Coast railway, was drowned. The rapidly rising river carried his hut away, and his body ha§ not been recovered so far.

No further loss of life is reported. Heavy rain in the back country caused the rivers Tutaekuri and Ngaruroao to »rise rapidly, and the former broke its bank at YVaiohiki early this afternoon, with the- result that Greenmeadows and Taradale were flooded to a depth of four or five feet. Another break lower down let in a large volume of water, which moved one house about ten chains out of position. People Rescued in Boats.

Rescue parties despatched v from Napier with life-boats have, up to latest reports, conveyed 50 people to- the Taradale Hotel and other places with a second storey. Parties will be out all night scouring the distric for any w&o might be in danger. One man was seen to iake to a high tree for safety, and it is not yet known if he has been rescued.

Heavy Loss of Stock

The suddenness of the visitation made it difficult for settlers to take precautions for the safety of stock and heavy losses are almost certain. One farmer lost 75 head of cattle, and another is said to have lost 2000 sheep. Interruptions in the telephone wires make it impossible to get much definite information, but it is reported that much stock has been lost. At Port Ahuriri water found its way into the cellar of a large warehouse and damaged' goods to the extent of £2OOO. 'lt is reported that the staff were able to remove a large quantity of goods, otherwise the less would have been several thousands more. Territorials Lose Equipment.

Territorials in camp at Eskdale Valley had an unenviable experience. The water in the liver rose six feet m lo minutes and camp was flooded to the extent of eight to ten feet. ” lc . n had time only to get out with their horses, losing most of their personal effects. Some got clear by swimming themselves and their horses. a considerable amount of equipment had. to be abandoned,, being completely uncter water. Tho men walked five miles, at times waist-deep- in water, to Petane, where lorries picked them up and brought them into Napier. School Children Floodbound.

Settlors in this area (Eskdale) are suffering similarly to those at laradale. School children were unable to gp home, but will be safe for the night in the school house. The Esk River rose rapidly and the whole of the valley is covered, even in some places hitherto untouched by floods for 20 years. The loss of stock here also is very considerable. Tho railway between Petane and Eskdale is washed out in several places, and it is anticipated that it ,will be three weeks before trains can go beyond Petane. Construction gangs beyond Eskdale on the railway lost a good deal of plant. . ' All telephone wires are working badly, making communication with the country districts difficult-

MOTOR-CARS ABANDONED.

HEAVY LOSSES OF STOCK

HASTINGS, March 11. From appearances parts of the surrounding districts are in for a serious flood. Heavy rains in the back country culminated in a heavy thunderstorm with torrents of rain early to-day, as a result of which the rivers rose rapidly. The Tutnekuri rose with little warning, and in two and a-lialf hours water was tonring down. So sudden was the Hood that motorists hnd to abandon cars on the road and take to the lulls. Some families hnd narrow escapes' with thenlives from the houses owing to the ranul encroachment of the river, and considerable losses of cattle and sheep are reported. At Tunnnui district, Sir Andrew Bussell’s residence 5.58 inches tell from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., winch swelled the Ngaruroro. seven miles from Hastings, but no banks are broken on this side ot the river, and the Hastings district is dry.