STORM DAMAGE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 208, 29 May 1926, Page 8

STORM DAMAGE

SETTLERS’ EXCITING EXPERIENCES PHENOMENAL RAINFALL “Dominion” Special. Auckland, May 28. May, 1926, will long be remembered in Auckland for its phenomenal rainfall, wjiicli gives promise of becoming a record. Hie fall to date is already almost treble the average of 4.54 in. computed over a period of 70 years. The records show that the aggregate for the month up to 9 o’clock yesterday morning was 13.30 in., which is 2.67 in. above the fall for the corresponding month in 1921, previously the wettest’May on record, and only 85 points below’that of February, 1860, which is the record for any one month.

Reports from outlying portions of the Thames County give details of some exciting adventures experienced by settlers during the recent rough weather. When the storm was at its height on Thursday night, a suspension bridge at Hikuai snapped at the ground level and became a tangled mass in the river. The swollen river flooded roads and farms, damaging crops and buildings. Large numbers of cattle were drowned, and there are numerous slips and washouts. Mr. Morrison estimates the damage on his property and loss of stock at £5OO.

Another settler, -Mr. H. Purdy, felt his house moving in the swirling waters. He took refuge on a table, and gripping the rafters, supported himself until the house came to rest half a chain awav.

Mr. Allan Taylor waded out into his vard to free his dog, leaving the door open. On returning, he found that a number of cows had occupied the kitchen, and they could not be moved until morning, when the flood subsided.

Fearing for the safety of his home, Mr Bruce Lowe, with his wife and familv, weathered the storm overnight on top of the water tank. When morning came, he found that nil but three of his cows had been washed away. Mr. Hamlvn lost a nnmber of cattle, and his crons were flooded. Some valuable furniture was rendered useless. Fortunately, his familv were in Auckland.

All file settlers worked bard throughout the night to save what. stock they could. Pawanni beach at Tairoa is now strewn with dead animals. The crew and captain ~of a scow which was loading at Hikuai for Auckland prevented the vessel from being stranded. Three travellers had a rouch trip from Puriri to Hikuai. While crossing a flooded creek one of their horses cut an arterv on one of its legs, and was put out of action. Through pitch darkness the partv walked the remaining nine miles, using the two horses to cross rivers and streams.

The waters are now subsiding everywhere. and the mail service is being restored.