Floods through New Plymouth

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 12

Floods through New Plymouth

(Hew Zealand Press association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, February 24. A state of emergency was declared in part of the New Plymouth business area tonight as rivers swollen by 24 hours of torrential rain poured through several shops.

Civil defence and police were called to keep crowds of spectators away from the middle of the city. About 10 p.m. concern was felt for the safety of staff and others inside the building occupied by Smith and Brown, Ltd, and they were brought away by the police. The swollen Huatoki River, many feet above its normal level, was running right through the home-furnishing shop and out into Devon Street, the main thoroughfare. The front display windows of the shop were smashed to relieve pressure inside and goods floated out on the street with the torrent.

s Two of the city’s main f blocks were affected by the i state of emergency declared )by the Mayor (Mr D. V. s Sutherland) just before 10 ■ p.m. Elsewhere, several r houses were evacuated for I the night as water flooded ’ through. The only rail link was , threatened at the WaiwaI kaiho River bridge, and the : road bridge serving the ; northern outlet was also eni dangered.