Tangahoe Bridge Washed Away

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 February 1935, Page 7

Tangahoe Bridge Washed Away

Structure Broken by Force of Water STOCK BEING WASHED OUT TO SEA RIVER BECOMES RAGING TORRENT Bending ar.a staying with a tremendous pressure of water the Tangahoe Bridge near the deviation work on the Main South Road to Pate a and southwards, was broken off like a carrot and * carried down tne river to the sea at 11.40 a.m. to-day. The water, although much above normal at 9 o’clock this morning, had not reached the level of the bridge at 9.30 a.m. At that time the water was 18 inches below the decking, but less than two hours later was six feet above it. In a short time, the bridge, which has done many years of service, was no more, and the stanchions and decking were flowing out to sea. Shortly after noon to-day the flood waters presented an aweinspiring sight. Floating down the river, in the midst of logs, debris of all kinds, and pieces of bridge decking from farther up the river, were examples of the losses farmers in the watershed of the river have suffered.

The loss of this bridge means

that all means of road communication between Hawera and the southern end of the island will be impossible for seme time.

The usually placid waters ox the Tangahoe river are spread over the surrounding farm lands in a raging torrent. Two poplar trees, normally well beyond the river banks, are submerged to a. point where only foliage appears above the level of the flood waters. The water covers the roadway up to a spot about ICO yards from where the bridge used to be, and at 1 p.m. showed no of receding. Crowds of people from Hawera were atti’acted to the locality. Traffic was held up at the beginning of the deviation construction, and from that point cars were parked for a considerable distance up t Jig hill. The -Manawapou Bridge is still intact, and although the water was well over the decking early this morning, it had started to recede by mid-day. NO POWER TROUBLES. The dam at the power station on the Norman by Road was flooded higher than ever before. The writer comjneneed to rise yesterday afternoon, and at dusk was 18 inches over the .weir. During the night, the water rose very rapidly and this morning was four feet over the weir. There wore no power interruptions during the storm, except for one or two minor faults ■caused by lightning. There has been 'some trouble caused by eels getting into the turbines, but otherwise all the power facilities are functioning normally. Kaponga was visited by a storm which has seldom been equalled prior Ao yesterday, although no serious damage was done in the town. The Oam at the power station overflowed, a happening which has taken placeonly twice before. The overflow came a little way d’own the road towards the town, but did not repeat a happening some years ago when the shops were flooded. Two bridges on farms near Kaponga were washed away’ a bridge on the farm of Mr Tayforth and another, a swing i bridge, on the property of Mr D. Wil-

t'son. Both of the bridges were over the Kapuni stream, and were erected for farm convenience only. Other farmers report a number of minor wash-outs, but no more damage than that.

At there have been only two higher rainfalls in 24 hour periods during the past 25 years. In the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. to-day the fall amounted to 5.22 inches, and the previous records w’cre G.GS on February 4, 191 G, and 5.27 on April 13, 1929. The Mangawhcro and Otakcho streams are in flood, but so far no damage has been reported. The Patea River is in high flood, and it is anticipated that the flood will be much higher at Patea when the tide comes in at the full. Logs are being carried down the river in large numbers. some of them being of a tremendous size. The logs arc g.oing out to sea unimpeded in their progress, and so far no damage has been reported. Nothing more than heavy rain has been reported in the Waver ley district. There was no damage, even of a minor nature. The roads from Waverloy in all directions are clear. NORMANBY DAM OVERFLOWS. At midday yesterday the dam at the hiormanby Dairy Factory showed signs that conditions would become abnor mal, and this was borne! out in fact) during the night. At dawn this morning the main drive wheel was partly submerged in four feet of -water owing to the fact that the water from, the dam was backing up to such an extent that it could not get away fast enough. The water from the dam flows out in two arms, one of which supplies the driving force for the water wheel ar.d the other carries the surplus of the stream from another side. The two races meet at a' spot behind the factory. The water backed up from~this junction into the" main drive wheel house to an alarming extent, but fortunately ro material damage was done.

By the time the milk carts arrived at the factory the waters had subsided, and the machinery was working normally. DAWSON FALLS DANGER Just before 6 a.m. people at the Dawson Falls Mountain House were awakened by a loud roar from the small stream near the liouse. A hurried inspection showed the stream to be a raging torrent and the power liouse partly submerged in the flood waters. When the waters subsided, the power house east wall was found to be seriously damaged, but the plant appears to have suffered little in any way beyond damage by water. There is over two feet of silt in the power station.

Phenomenal rains occurred at Daw rson Falls during the night. The rain gauge was filled to overflowing, but still recorded a fall of 12.7.5 inches. The day before the rainfall was 0.87 inches, making a total of 19.62 inches in 48 hours. Messrs W. G. Walkle.v and L. O. Hooker made a trip to the Mountain House this morning and the repairs will he put in hand immediately.

BLOCKAGES AT WANGANUI MAIL BUS STOPPED. BOATS CONVEY PASSENGERS. WANGANUI, To-day. The only road seriously blocked at present is by the .Wanganui Bivor, where the mail bus was unable to get through. Passengers from Pipiriki this morning were •drought clown bv boat and mails will be sent up by boat to-morrow. On the Para para road traffic is held up owing to tho river being over the road six feet deep at the 21 mile p-.-g. On other roads, minor slips are reported, but insufficient to cause blockage. The Wanganui River is in higTi rrood.