HUGE LANDSLIDE

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1936, Page 5

HUGE LANDSLIDE

Diverts a River

ENORMOUS SOUTH AUCKLAND DAMAGE.

(Per Press Association). TE AWAMUTU, February 4

Investigation discloses that the cause of Sunday’s havoc at Pirongia Mountain was a la-nd slide, which blocked the course of the river. Thu water finally broke through, and rushed into the valleys below. Settlers say that a solid wall of water, eight dr ten feet high, swept the valleys, carrying everything before it. Three bridges were swept away, two of them on the main highway to Kawhia. The scone is one of utter desolation. Hundreds of acres are covered with debris and silt. Crops and pastures, are destroyed and fences levelled. The willows lining the normal watercourse bear evidence that the water level was at least twelve feet high. Huge logs and boulders are scattered over the country. One bridge -lies in the middle of a paddock, nearly half a mile away, and is almost completely covered with logs and debris. It is impossible as yet to reach the central position of the main highway, as a huge slip blocks one end, and bridgeless rivers make access impossible at the other end. On rhe alternative road, across the mountain, it i known that the hillside has fallen into the valley, carrying several chains of the road and also that a tangled m'ass of logs and debris -will have to be cleared.

On the main highway, it is known that at least five slips have occurred. Fortunately the oncoming flood waters sounded a warning enabling the settlers to make for higher levels. Two men had a narrow escape, one being actually knee deep in water in Lis rush for safety as the torrent <. vc-rtook him. The stock losses are heavy, but it is impossible as yet to muster <he sheep ri-d cattle, as the fences are /-own, wuh the surviving stock wa'.deri.ig on the mountain sides. Death from Exhaustion TRAMPERS’ ORDEAL. (Per Press Association). PALMERSTON N., February 4. The storm which raged on Sunday was responsible for the death of a voting man and a narrow escape of five othe'rs, members' of a tramping party out on the Tararuas. behind Levin. The victim was Ralph Wood, married, 29, optician, Manapouri Crescent, Palmerston North, son of wellknown Palmerston North residents. Wood succumbed to exposure and exhaustion on top of Twin Peak, where the full force of the hurricane was felt. The other members of the party were Andrew Fuller, who acted;, as leader Tom Arlidge, Ralph Dawick, Harold Ramsay, and Albert Waters, all of Palmerston North. The party set out shortly after midday on Saturday, on an excursion to To Matawai Hut which was reached at 6 p.m. During the night, the storm broke with such force that they decided to return by the same way as they had gone into the hills, but the flooded state of the Ohau River prevented them doing this. They then took a route over to Waipehu. While progressing over Butcher’s Saddle, they had a terrifying experience, trees uprooted by the hurricane falling all round them. None expected to get out alive. The track was completely obliterated at times, and they felt all hope of getting out • had vanished. They were soon feeling the strain of the ’ heavy going. Progress was lamentably slow. Coming on to Twin Peak, however, the absence of large trees a great deal of danger, hut Wood -was seen to be falling, and he did soon afterwards from exposure and exhaustion. Waters and Fuller, though both exhausted, tried to drag Wood with them' over the peak to the other side but had insufficient strength. They lay down in the shelter o.f the sciuo about fifty feet from the top Unable to get over, the other three men succeeded in crossing to where Waiopehu Hut should have been, but it had disappeared. They camped for I the night. Arlidge set out in the darkness, and after an all day battle came out’of the bush, he reached Levin. Meanwhile. Fuller and Waters, in the morning, : crossed Twin Peak, and rejoined Ramsay and Dawick at Waiopehu. The quartette could not get back down Waiopehu track. Eventually they waded down the flooded Akaritu stream, following the same route «?.s Arlidge and got out safely.

Wairarapa Tragedies TWO BOYS THE VICTIMS. GREAT DAMAGE DONE. (Per Press Association, MASTERTON, February 4Eric Wallace Groves, the 154-year-old son of Mr and Mrs H. G. Groves, of Tinui, a well-known Wairarapa family, was killed yesterday afternoon, when helping to cut a big a tree that was damaged by the gale. The branch was cut down, but it rebounded, and the end struck deceased on the side of the head, and broke his neck. , The lad was a pupil of the Feilding Agricutural High School, and was to have left to-day to commence the first term. On his suggestion, however, he remained to help clear up the storm damage. James Wilson, the 15-year-old son ot Mr. ami Mrs. James Wilson, of Waingawa, left home in company with five other youths, on Saturday afternoon on a deer-stalking expedition to Stronvar. Three members of the party including deceased, went into the bush on Saturday evening, but soon lost their way, thick mist rendering the visibility very difficult. The party, which had no food, and were poorly clad for the ordeal, decided to spend the night in the bush. Next morning at dawn they started to follow the fence line, in the hope of clearing the bush, but a heavy storm broke, further adding tn the troubles of the youths. The howling gale frequently smashed down frees in their path. They battled on, feeling rather than seeing their way Wilson began to show signs of weakness, and one of his friends ie lieved him of his rifle. The party had gene some distance, walking about twenty yardje behind one another, when ' it ’ was found that Wilson, was

missing. Shots were fired, and repeatedly made, but without any response. Two o,f the youths then retraced their steps to the spot where Wilson was last seen. The search which was greatly impeded by thick bush and the fog, proved fruitless. Thinking that Wilson had succeded in finding a short cut back to camp, the youths continued on, but were unable to get out, and spent another unenviable night in the bush. About 11 a.m. to-day, they succeeded. in making their way out to a sheep station, where they secured much-needed food. They then went by car to where they had struck camp on Saturday night, expecting to find Wilson there. When they found that nothing had been heard of him, a search party was organised, and later in the day his body was found lying in the fern, a short distance from where his friends last saw him. The lad, who was clad in shirt, trousers, and sand-shoes, apparently died from exposure, on Sunday night. An inquest will be held'. He "was employed by the Oppenheimer Casing Company at Waingawa. Slips and washouts have rendered many baek-ountry roads particularly towards the east coast, impassable, it is expected that, in some cases, it will take a week or two to clear the debris.

About twenty Masterton families are isolated at Castlepoint, a popular seaside resort, for fourteen miles of the road from Castle point to Masterton is unnegotiable, even to horses, and it will be necessary to pack foodstuffs across country. The fears entertained by the Lower Valley settlers of a serious flood were realised 'tertiay, when the waters from the swollen northen rivers reache'd the low-lying country around Lake Wairarapa. The lake is rising steadily, to-day but fortunately the outlet at the lake ferry is still open, allowing the waters to run freely. Settlers had sufficient warning, and it is not expected that there will be any serious stock losses. A serious flood in January or February is almost unprecedented in South Wairarapa. To date, this financial year, the Masterton County Council has already spent £3OOO in' repairing damage toroads, as the result of floods and heavy rain, and is now faced with further heavy expenditure, a bridge on the Langdale road having collapsed and several roads having been blocked. POVERTY BAY ESCAPES. (Per Press Association). GISBORNE, February 4. Gisborne emerged from' Sunday’s storm practically unscathed, no damage being reported in the town itself while the country districts, as far as can be ascertained, escaped lightly. The greatest inconvenience was caused by the disruption of the telegraph and telephone services, communication with outside districts being entirely cut off until 3.30 p.m. yesterday. A number of slips occurred on the main highways and other roads on Sunday, but the main routes are now all "ope The Waiter emo an a power supply was cut off on Sunday but the borough standby plant was able to carry the load until the national supply was resum'ed automatically. when the main lines disentangled themselves ISERIOUS (FRUIT (LOSSES. / IN AUCKLAND AND HAWKE’S BAY.

’ AUCKLAND, February 4.

Enormous damage was caused to orchards in the Henderson and Huapai districts, and at Te Kauwhata, in the Waikato, by the gale on Sunday, Hundreds of trees were uprooted or bent almost to horizontal, and thousands of bushels of fruit were littered upon the ground. The extent ot the loss cannot be estimated at present, but it is stated that a number of farmers arc practically ruined. The most badly-affected orchards at Henderson and Gratia report that 90 per cent, of their fruit mostly apples and pears, has been shaken down, while the general average throughout all districts is considered to approach 50 per cent. Nearly all this fruit is a total loss, for it is not matured enough to be sold, even as “windfalls.” Individual orchardists claim that the destruction of trees and crops has cost them sums ranging from £2OO to £5OO. HAISTiKNGS February 4.

The storm has caused what Mr. Paynter.' President' of the Hawke’s Bay Fruit-growers’ Association, described as the worst disaster ever to befall the fruitgrowing industry in this district. Mr. Paynter estimates the damage to crops and trees at between £lOO,OOO and £120,000. To-day he is conducting a survey with the object of confirming that estimate. He intends calling a meeting of .growers, to consider taking steps to obtain Government assistance, in view of the export prospects being now almost nil. The estimate of the damage done by the storm to orchards in the Hawke s Bay district, made at the heights ot the storm, when appearances were particularly unfavourable, have since been possible of revision. The amended opinion of responsible authorities is that a good deal of damage to trees is not irreparable, and that the export totals will not, bo reduced by more than 30 per cent. The district’s orchards were carrying an uncommonly heavy crop, and drastic thinning out by the wind still leaves reasonable heavy crops. In some isolated instances, individual growers will lose heavily, but generally the loss will not be so heavy as at first believed. SOUTH TARANAKI LUCKY. HAWERA, February 4. In comparison with other . parts of the province South Taranaki escaped lightly from storm damage, but repairs to roads, bridges and private property will cost somewhere in the vicinity of £30.000. With the exception of some back roads, all road communication north and south has been re-established. In Hawera, the damage was mainly confined to fences and gardens, while some stocks were damaged by roof leakages. In the outer districts, the wind played havoc, uprooting hundreds of trees,, smashing outbuildings and wrecking telephone and power lines. From 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, for 24 hours, rain fell continuously, ranging from 5.45 inches in Hawera, to 16 inches at Dawson Falls. The rivers are in high flood and all access to Opunake from south and east was severed by the erosion ot the northern approach to the Waiau River bridge on the main South Road, and th‘e collapse of two spans of the railway bridge and the demolition of the Patiki River bridge, on the Eltham-Opunake road. Bridges and culverts in Waimate

West County disappeared in the flood, and beach cottages at the mouth of the Kahpokonui River were washed out to sea.

St. Cuthbert’s Church at Manala was unroofed in the gale. Hawera, was isolated for a time by the flood waters of the Tangahoo River, which submerged the main South bridge, and inundated the detour road.

WANGANUI WATER SUPPLY CUT OFF.

WANGANUI, February 4.

It is estimated that it will be several weeks before the Okehu pipeline is repaired. The city, meanwhile, is dependent on water pumped from tho Kai Iwi stream. The supply is unequal to all requirements and it is necessary to restrict its use.

Harbour Damage

(Per Press Association).

AUCKLAND, February 4.

Five men and three girls had a narrow escape from drowning, early on Sunday morning, when the 28 foot mullet boat, Twilight, and the launch Wainui were caught in the south-west gale during the week-end, and hurled high and dry on the rocks near the beacon on Rangitoto Island. The crew of the Twilight, W. 11. Howell and W. Custis, were washed out of the cockpit of their boat, and were bruised and cut through being fhin. against the rocks by huge waves. One of the three girls on the Wainui* had her ribs bruised through being jammed between the side of tho launch and its dinghy, when she was swept overboard, but luckily she and her companions were carried by the waves through a narrow gap in tho rocks, into deep water, and escaped serious injury, although one of the party had her arm badly lacerated, Three men on the launch were not so fortunate, and received both bruises and cuts. The launch was badly battered, and is reported to be a complete wreck. On the Auckland waterfront, about 40 small craft were either badly damaged or piled up into wreckage, while there was also heavy damage on the Manakau, where the full effect of the gale was felt. AUCKLAND DAMAGE. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, February 4. Widespread damage was caused by the cyclonic storm which swept tho Auckland province on Saturday night and yesterday. Telephone, telegraph, and power services were interrupted, roads and railways were blocked by slips and in some areas heavy floods caused great damage. Heavy rain on Saturday was followed by tempestuous conditions, during which the wind veered from the east, to blow a full gale from the west. At the height of Sunday’s storm, the barometer fell to the exceptionally low reading of 28.88. When the wind changed, in suburban Auckland there were many instances of roofs being stripped, trees blown down and devastation, of orchards. The storm caused general isolation of many country districts, but communication was partially restored, and there began to filter through stories of great devastation and general loss. Every corner in the province suffered. Kaitaia, Whangarei, Paeroa and Thames have suffered heavily as a result of floods. All communications with North Auckland x were interrupted yesterday, and the roads and railways are not expected to be clear for some days. On Hauraki plains and in North Auckland, dairy stock and sheep were drowned. There is hardly a street in the city and suburbs that does not bear evidence of the storm. SHIPS CAUGHT IN GALES, A ROUGH TIME. AUCKLAND, February 4. Sheep were washed overboard, and the ice-chest, weighing half a ton, was carried away, and the deck quarters were stove in, when the Ronaki and the Hauturu, two of the Northern Steamship Company’s motor vessels:, which arrived at Onehunga, encountered the full force of the gale during the week-end. The captains of both vessels, which came from Hokianga and Pieton. stated, that the storm was the severest they had ever experienced on the West Coast. The Hauturu left Picton on Saturday afternoon, and was off Cape Egmont early on Sunday, when she was struck by a gale from the south-east, which soon increased almost to cyclonic force. Solid sheets of ■water were forced into the air by the strong wind, and visibility was almost non-existent. At one stage the vessel was pooped by two tremendous seas, which stove in the aft quarters and the galley door, shifted the standard compass, carried away the meat-safe and ice-chest, weighing half a ton, and flooded the decks to a depth of three feet. Members of the crew said that another sea of similar size would have sunk the vessel.

The Tauturu fought through the gale until Sunday afternoon, being forced to heave to off Kawhia. She was signalled off Manukau heads at 8.15 a.m. to-day, and took the bar half an hour later. Her general cargo was undamaged. Captain Jackson Fowler never left the bridge for 48 hours. Four sheep were washed overboard, and 20 died, while the Ronaki was riding out the gale outside Manukau Heads, from early on Sunday morning until to-day. HAWKE’S BAY DAMAGE. HASTINGS, February 4. The floods cut off Napier and Hastings from each other, and from outside areas, by road, rail, air, telephone and telegraph. The roads to the north are open again, also one route to Hastings. About 80 per cent, of the country telephone service was last n'ight out ot action. Telegraphic communication IS still limited, owing to the collapse ot part of the line near Napier. Passengers travelling south by rail, had to be brought by ’bus to Hastings, to join the train there. It is believed that the stock losses in this locality are not serious, despite the rapid rising of three rivers, which yesterday afternoon were in a highlydangerous state. Many thousands o.t acres are flooded. Communications in the affected Hawke’s Bay area are being steadily improved. Roads are now open, except these in the more-seriously flooded areas, but. alternative routes are available.

Telephone communication with Wei

lington and Palmerston is available, via Auckland, a normal service existing as far as Dannevirke in the south and Wairoa in the north, while one circuit is available to Gisborne. Last night 600 country telephone lines in the vicinity of Hastings were out of action. Morse telegrams to all parts of the Dominion were m operation at 7 o’clock last evening. MANAWATU FLOODING. PALMERSTON N., February 4. The worst flood for many years was experienced by settlers who have homesteads on the banks of the Manawatu River, between Rangiotu and Rangitane, which is half-way between Palmerston North and Foxton. So sudden did the water descend on to the area, that no time was given in which stock could be removed to safety. Homes were completely surrounded and the families are unable to leave. Their outlook was black as the river continued to pour over the herds in the water, and it Jia feared many cows have been drowned. One settler lost twenty-five of his herd already.