TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 85, 22 March 1933, Page 7

TERRIFIC DOWNPOUR

FLOODS IN KING COUNTRY FAILURE OF ELECTRIC SUPPLY. THRILLING RESCUES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Taumarunui, March 22. Heavy, warm rains which fell for five hours in the National Park area yesterday brought snow down the rivers and this, together with last night’s heavy local downpour, caused the Wanganui river to overflow its banks at midnight. The hydru-olcctrie t«jrks at Piriaka were flooded ami the light failed at 1 o’clock this morning. The plant is still out of action. The river swept over the groynes between the Matapuna bridge and Tauniarunui, the main road between the Tauniarunui and Matapuna bridge being under water. The stream swept on in a raging torrent and the area known as The Flat was completely inundated. The Recreation Ground nearby was soon a sea of water. The Mayor, Mr. C. A. Boles, realising the danger, organised rescue parties headed by the Fire Brigade and police and practically every house on The Flat and at Matapuna was evacuated. The water was almost waistdeep in some streets on The Flat, also in the houses. The failure of the electricity made rescue work difficult. The current was so strong that many women, most of whom were in sleeping attire, had to be assisted by rescuers. The water seemed to rise in a few minutes with the result that no one could save belongings. Many were unaware of the danger and were awakened by the rescuers to find their beds surrounded by Water. One of the rescuers found a boy floundering in deep water and saved him from drowning. In another instance a rescuer himseif disappeared in a deep wash-out and had to swim out. The people of Taumarunui rose to the occasion. Dozens of cars arrived on the scene in the early hours of the morning to take the rescued to warm beds. Large numbers of cattle and sheep were accommodated in stock paddocks near the saleyards. Of these 120 sheep were drowned and some cattle arc missing. At daybreak cattle were seen swimming down the Wanganui river. The floods reached their highest point at 3 a.m. and thereafter subsided. Very little rain fell after midnight, and the weather is now fine.

In outlying districts much damage is reported. Many bridges arc down and there are slips and wash-outs all over the country. The main highway north is blocked by a large wash-out a mile from Taumarunui and there is another wash-out to the south near the power house at Piriaka.

TORRENTIAL RAIN AT WANGANUI. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, March 22. After a day of intense humidity torrential rain fell at Wanganui last night, temporarily flooding the streets and business premises. One hundred and seventy-four points fell in the last 24 hours. At Pipiriki the Wanganui River has risen 30 feet above normal, carrying with it vast quantities of timber and several small bridges. The weather is fine and clear to-day. 1\ INCHES AT THE CHATEAU. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, March 22. The Meteorological Office reports that 7j inches of rain fell at the Chateau Tongariro yesterday. IN POVERTY BAY DISTRICT. ROADS BLOCKED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, Mar. 22. Heavy rain has fallen along the eastern seaboard at Gisborne, 110 points being registered in five hours last night. Matawai reports 3.44 inches in the last 24 hours. Service cars for Auckland were blocked both on the Waioeka and Motu Valley routes owing to flooded streams. The main road at Motu is waist-deep near the Post Office. Telegraph communication to north and south are temporarily interrupted.