WEIR BURSTS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 7, 3 October 1941, Page 8

WEIR BURSTS

Flood Damage At Kaiwarra THOUSANDS OF OIL DRUMS AFLOAT Houses in Kaiwarra were flooded, and three families in Gorge Road had to evacuate their homes when the Kaiwarra Stream overflowed and poured across the Hutt Road, 'damaging business premises and blocking the road. The compound of the Atlantic Union Oil Company’s bulk terminal and warehouse at Kaiwarra was flooded by the bursting of a weir, and when the waters which had gathered there broke away, they took about 4000 empty oil drums with them. Some of the drums pile'd up in the flooded stream, and others —possibly about 2000—were swept headlong into the harbour. Many were later recovered from Oriental Bay. When the flood was at its height, 50 yards of the Hutt Road were covered with water, the greatest depth being about 3ft. The factory of William Cable and Co., Ltd., structural and general engineers, was right in the path of the flood waters, which poured through the building and also flooded the factory of John Newton and Son, Ltd., Caledonia Soap Works. Holes had to be made in Cable’s building to let the water escape. Water and gasmains were also broken. The action of the schoolmaster, Mr. Rockel, in opening the school and providing heating and milk for those seeking refuge from the flood was much appreciated by the residents. The church was also opened. Mrs. Bowers and her family of about six children, the O’Callaghans, and another family whose houses received the worst of the flooding, had to leave their homes, as the water had come in to a depth of several feet. It was reported last night that because of the • bursting of the weir on the Kaiwarra stream, considerable erosion had taken place higher up and the Ngaio Gorge Road had been severely scoured out so that one-way traffic only was permitted. An electric light pole and telegraph post and fencing for about 100 feet had been undermined and the side of the paved road damaged. A night watchman had been placed there to warn traffic. Ambulances Held Up.

Two cars of the Wellington Free Ambulance were held up for nearly an hour by the flood at Kaiwarra. One was going to Lower Hutt with an urgent case and the other was bringing a patient to Wellington from York Boy. The superintendent of the Free Ambulance, Mr. F. Roffe, was able to arrange for a large Army truck which could negotiate the flood to transfer the two patients, who changed ambulances, and continued on their way.