FLOOD DAMAGE AT HOKITIKA
Water Enters Many Shops RIVER BACK TO NORMAL From Our Own Reporter HOKITIKA, September 2. When the Hokitika river broke through the sandbank at its mouth about 1.15 a.m. to-day it gave temporary relief- to the flooding of the town, but considerable damage had already been done in shops and offices. The break through at the mouth of the river is not complete, but should a flood occur within the next few days the force of water would widen the outlet of the river mouth. The river was more than a f°ot higher than any flood level on record at the height of the flood. There was one sheet of water from the Masonic Hall, in South Revell street, extending across the wharf and the river and as far the south side of the aerodrome. The bank at the mouth of the river is at present level with the southern training wall. The river rose level with this bank before it forced a small outlet on the northern side of the bank. The stop-bank at the aerodrome, on the southern side of the river, was broken away for 60 feet in one part, and huge rocks were carried across the aerodrome. At the Harbour Board’s goods sheds the water rose to within six inches of the floor. There were thousands of pounds of cargo, including cement, in the sheds. Little Warning It had been said for a considerable period that the town would be flooded Decause of the blocking at the bar, but the flooding came so quickly that the occupants of many business premises, offices, hotels, and private residences had insufficient warning to enable them to remove effects to safety. At midday to-day the river was back to normal, but the streets were still under water, and boats were in - use in Weld street to carry people from the town clock to Perry’s store. All of the <hops between the Tancred street inrersection and the clock tower were badly flooded. It is reported that stock losses will be heavy. The total loss will not be known until the clearingup process is finished. Weld street rises sharply as it nears .he intersection of Revell street, and this saved the Hotel Westland from camage, the water lapping at the front of the top doorstep. Several hotels were invaded by the flood, the worstaffected being the Red Lion Hotel, which faces the wharf opposite the Post Office. The water was more than two feet deep on the ground floor, and although much of the furniture was moved, the damage was severe. The guests had to stay on the top floor until late this morning. The Post Office on foe opposite corner was also flooded ;o a depth of more than one foot. Flood water entered the bottom row of private boxes, and the mail contained in •hese boxes was'found floating inside. Mail-bags in the mail-room were also soaked. Two hours after patrons were evacuated from the Regent Theatre the water swept inside, and the lower part of the :4alls was covered with water. Water rose level with the second step of the stairway leading to the circle, and although the new fover carpet was lifted in time considerable cleaning-up will have to be done in the theatre. The “Hokitika Guardian” staff was .iot able to print the paper to-day. Building contractors were sorting out timber which floated through the streets.
Danger to Town Seen The Harbourmaster (Mr G. Howe), ?aid that if a big spring flood should occur under similar conditions, there was a chance that the river would break through the weak portion of the .iorthern training wall and wash away a large portion of the town. There was also the additional risk that with the river continually edging north the town area would be more and more exposed to sea, erosion. Mr Howe said that to prevent the blocking of the river mouth the training walls would have to be extended seawards 300 to ■OO yards. The Mayor (Mr A. R. Elcock) received the following telegram from the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple): “It was with great regret that I. learned that the Hokitika river is flooding the township. I have instructed the Public Works Department to lend all possible assistance and I am immediately arranging for my river control engineer (Mr Grant) to fly south and render whatever assistance is possible.” Two aeroplanes, a Rapide and a Fox Moth, were in the hangars at,the aerodrome and it was impossible to prevent their being caught by the flood waters. The oily waters found their way into the cabin of the Moth. The company’s engineer (Mr W. Diny) said <o-day that a preliminary investiga.ion disclosed that there had been no structural damage to the aircraft, but 1 hey would have to be partly dismantled in order to dry out the motors. They would not be able to be flown for about a week, but it was hoped that a Dominie aircraft could be obtained to carry out the service in the meantime.
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Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25279, 3 September 1947, Page 8
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846FLOOD DAMAGE AT HOKITIKA Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25279, 3 September 1947, Page 8
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