HAWKE’S BAY FLOODS

Evening Star, Issue 21091, 2 May 1932, Page 4

HAWKE’S BAY FLOODS

AN EXTENSIVE INUNDATION EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH. [Per United Pkess Association.] NAPIER, April 30. Flood conditions prevailed in tho district between Napier and Hastings and to the westward of those two. places over the week-end. The position became serious late yesterday afternoon, but a cessation of the rain during last night and this morning brought relief and prevented greater damage than had already been done. A breach in the bank of the Tuataefcuri River which occurred on Friday afternoon allowed the waters to flood over the lower Papakura district throughout yesterday and £o-day, and an area a mile in width is now covered to a depth of two or three feet. Practically one-third of the volume of the river is going through the/ breach ; taking with it a considerable quantity of silt which has been very much in evidence in all die rivers in the district since the earthquake. A, breach some four chains in extent also occurred in the Ngaruroro River at Ruapare yesterday afternoon,. and here again the country in the vicinity of Poplar Avenue and Pakowhai, small settlements to the west of Hastings, is inundated. : _ . ■. _ . To-day the rain in Napier and Hastings eased off to a large extent, and reports, from the back country districts also indicate that, the falls have not been so heavy there as in the two previous days. The rain has not been continuous, and between the showers the water was given an opportunity to get away. This had an effect on the rivers to-day, and they all showed definite signs of receding; and in ■ some cases areas of land which .had been flooded were free from water this evening. ■ No losses of stock are reported, although to-day those who visited the flood area saw an .occasional cow or sheep drowned. The areas affected are mainly small farm holdings with some dairying cattle, and as the farmers have been quite accustomed to flood conditions lately they take the precaution of removing . stock to higher ground at the first indication-of a flood. There have been fairly numerous instances of fences having ben swept away where they were called upon to withstand the full force of the flood waters, some of them having only been renewed since the last flood on March 8. About a dozen houses in lower Papakura are isolated by the flood, waters, hut the residents have not been compelled to leave them, as they stand high above the flood level'. In one or two instances the occupants have been short of food, but arrangements were made to-day to supply them with what was required. •• ... V- ' Most'of the. principal roads in, the district have been blocked -at one stage or another on account of slips'or floods, but most of these have been open either by the clearing away of the slips or the receding of the water. Communication by direct route f was cut off between 1 Napier and Hastings to all but High buses and lorries on Saturday, but to-day all cars were able to get through, with water up to the running boards. 1 The Napier-Wairoa roads were blocked for a time yesterday with slips on the Devil’s" Elbow, but an alternative route has been opened up , to-day. It is expected that the main route will Shot be opened until to-morrow. The Napier-Taupe roaxl was ■ blocked with large slips just over twenty miles from Napier. ' , The conditions at Haumoana, a beach resort at the mouth of the Ngauroro River, were more serious on this occasion than for the.last twenty years. The swollen river, backed up by heavy seas, soon resulted in portions' of the residential quarter nearest to the river bank being inundated, and at - least six houses had to be vacated, the floors being under water. One family which had only been settled there for two weeks, consisting of a man and his wife and five children, with his aged blind father, had to be removed ,by boat to safety. Another family spent i Friday night sitting on the ' table in the kitchen. . „' , , In another section of the township ten houses situated between two lagoons which overflowed across the roadway owing to the river backing up were completely isolated on Saturday. One resident was able to row a boat across the flooded paddocks where the level of the water was over the top of the fences to do the necessary shopping in the village. The position as it presents itself today is viewed seriously by the_ residents, as the flooding question is far more acute since the earthquake owing to the river bed having been raised two feet and the surrounding land having receded two feet, making a difference in the levels of four feet all told. The flood water on this occasion found its way to parts which in previous years have not been affected, and in the grounds surrounding the Haumoana Hall there was a depth of six feet, the water reaching to within six inches of the flooring. To-day the river dropped considerably. mainly clue to the moderating of the sea and opening of the river mouth by officials of the Rivers Board. The residents are deeply concerned, however, as another rough sea inay again cause serious damage. The stop bank and flood gate promised by the Rivers Board for many years have now become a dire necessity if the township is to be adequately protected, and the seriousl development on this occasion will no doubt prompt an early commencement of the work.