RAIN DAMAGE ON PENINSULA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25083, 15 January 1947, Page 3

RAIN DAMAGE ON PENINSULA

Bridges Washed Away ROAD BLOCKED BY SLIP AT LE BON’S BAY The heavy rainstorm which occurred in the Eastern Bays district on Thursday night did heavy damage to roads and bridges in the area from Long Bay to Okain’s Bay. The rain came from the south-east, and between the hours of 6 o’clock on Thursday evening and 2 o’clock on Friday morning just over five inches was recorded by Mr W. Haley’s "rain gauge at Gough’s Bay. The rain came like a cloudburst, and the creeks were soon in full flood. Slips everywhere blocked the roads ana creeks, and bridges were carried away. At Le Bon’s Bay the bluegum bridge opposite the post office was completely carried away and the old factory bridge was dislodged, so that more than 50 campers, who were camping near the beach or in huts, were completely isolated. Since the flood the factory bridge has been re-erected for light traffic, and Mr G. Lodge (Eastern Bays, foreman for the Akaroa County) reported Last evening that a ford was being made across the creek where the bluegum bridge was and a detour through Mr J. Truman’s property. A tractor was used to clear the creek and bridge of debris, and 10 or 12 campers had helped the County Council’s men to make the ford across the creek by the post office. Mr Lodge said by using this ford traffic into the bay could now be resumed, but anyone using the road would have to drive with extreme care. Later it was hoped to get a bulldozer into the bay to improve conditions there. Mr Lodge added that the tractor was being used to rescue the bridge timbers from the creek bed. * Slip debris blocked the bluegum bridge during the storm and the water was diverted through Mr J. Truman’s paddock. Eleven killing sheep were drowned and his vegetable garden ruined. Valley Road Blocked On the Valley road in Le Bon’s Bay a slip has blocked the road with 1000 yards of debris. Above Mr P. Barnett’s residence a creek is flowing where the road once was. The upper end of Panama road is also blocked by a slip. On the Back road it will be necessary to put in a 15ft bridge where there was previously only a culvert. Two Houses Flooded The houses occupied by Mr Vaughan and Mr W. McKay on the flat at Le Bon’s Bay were flooded out, and about three inches of silt covered the floors. Furniture was damaged, and thd vegetable and flower gardens were practically destroyed. Campers on the beach escaped flooding, though they are isolated. In Laverick’s Bay the main bridge was undamaged, but Mr Morrison lost his sheepyards .and had water round his house up to the veranda. Two private bridges were destroyed, and the gardens were carried away. Long Bay Road Mr W. O’Brien. Akaroa County foreman, reported evening that the Long Bay road was cleared of slips from the Summit road right down to the valley bridge. Traffic beyond this point would be blocked for some time, however, as the valley creek had left its course and washed away the road on the bottom side of the bridge. The road beyond the bridge leading into the bay was also blocked by slips and would not be fit for traffic for some time. There were seven or eight cars isolated at Long Bay.

Plight of Campers Campers spent a miserable night as the creek rushed down the flat carrying large boulders. Mr W. Newton, with his daughters and niece, took refuge in Mr Waller’s house, but they were only in time . and had to go through water up to their knees. The Rev. David Taylor and Mrs Taylor, formerly of Akaroa, who were camping on the other side of the creek, had to leave their camp. They spent the night on a rock above the camp site with only overcoats to protect them from the deluge. Fortunately the younger members of the family had been given hospitality earlier in-, .-the evening by Mr and Mrs A. A. Narbiey. The Akaroa County Council’s staff worked all through the week-end to clear Long Bay road, and Mr L. H. Cooke’s bulldozer was used on Saturday and Sunday to push slips off the road. The bulldozer will be engaged clearing Gopgh’s Bay road of slips today and will go on to open Hickory road. The lower end of Long Bay road will then receive attention, and the creek will be diverted through the valley bridge again An interesting feature of the rainstorm was that it seemed to fall on an area about half a mile deep between the summit of the hills and sea level. Mr O’Brien said that no damage was done to roads above a certain height, and below a certain level it was only the flooding of creeks that did damage. This has occurred on Banks Peninsula before and is no doubt due to atmospheric conditions, the rain falling where a cold current of air meets a warmer atmosphere. At Okain’s Bay and Little Akaloa the rain was not so heavy, but it was sufficient to damage gardens and cause some wash-outs, though not in the main roads. At Akaroa the rain recorded was 2.25 inches, all of which fell in a few hours. No damage has been reported.