MOUNTAIN FLOOD

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 16

MOUNTAIN FLOOD

FALLS DAMAGED

BOULDER-CHARGED RIVER

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. The Victoria Falls, on the Kapuni River, which are a well-known show place on Mount Egmont, were extensively damaged by what is thought to have been a cloudburst on the upper slopes of the mountain early yesterday morning. What was previously a ■ waterfall is now but a swirling water race. The flood was the worst experienced since February,. 1934, when a new power station was wrecked. The crossing over the river on Dawson FallsStratford Track was washed away yesterday, together with a ladder used in descending to the river level, and part of the bank was gouged out. At the height of the flood the noise of boulders being hurled downstream was so great as to wake the guests and staff at the hostel and even people at the camp house, which is 200 yards from the river. An investigation yesterday by Mr. Kirk Johnson, guide at Dawson Falls Hostel, revealed that silt about twelve inches deep covered the old power house site and trees and boulders were piled against the foundations. ■ The rainfall registered at the hostel between 9.30 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. yesterday amounted to 3.5 inches, but it is thought that the fall higher up must have been far greater. Torrential rain, totalling 7.53 inches between 8 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. yesterday was experienced at -North Egmont.