HOKITIKA RESIDENTS FEAR MORE TROUBLE FROM RIVER

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 September 1947, Page 6

HOKITIKA RESIDENTS FEAR MORE TROUBLE FROM RIVER

With the sandbank at the mouth of the river still very much in evidence and with the spring flood season approaching, many Hokitika residents are apprehensive that, unless prompt measures are taken to remove the menace of the blocked river outlet, the town will again be subjected to a severe flood. Several businesses have already taken the precaution of raising important shop fittings above Monday night’s flood level. Although the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) indicated in his telegram to the Mayor (Mr A. R. Elcock) that an immediate inspection would be carried out by the engineer to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Mr A. P. Grant, it is understood that Mr Grant will not arrive on the West Coast until next week.

In the meantime, nothing has been done to indicate that the Public Works Department contemplates an early start on the proposed river control works below ■ the railway bridge at Hokitika. The breach remains in the stop-bank at the aerodrome, and as in the case of the business area, fears are held that heavy rain in the next few days would produce serious results.

With the exception of hotel cellars, the flood water has drained away from the flooded area and the task of cleaning up homes, businesses and the streets is almost completed. Pumps are still working in several hotels, however, removing the water from the flooded cellars. Much work still remains at the offices and hangars of Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd., at the Hokitika aerodrome, where the flood waters spread a film of oil and filth over a wide area. The flooded aeroplanes are being overhauled and are expected to be in the air again next week.