OLD MAORI CHURCH AT ROTORUA DEMOLISHED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1936, Page 7

OLD MAORI CHURCH AT ROTORUA DEMOLISHED.

HAVOC IN TOWN AND DISTRICT ROTORUA, Last Night. The severest storm experienced in the memory of old residents raged throughout Saturday night and early yesterday, causing severe havoc in various parts of the district including the demolition of the original Maori

church at Ohinemutu which is one of the few remaining relics of former missionary days.

For 24 hours preceding 9 a.m. yesterday over six inches of rain were registered and throughout the night houses rocked on their foundations and the power supply was cut off by damage done to the lines by falling trees.

The old Maori church was demolished at the height of the gale about 4 a.m., when the walls caved in with a resounding crash. Yesterday norning uprooted trees and broken power lines were seen everywere while most of the streams flowing into the lake broke their banks and inundated private property. At Tarewa, near Ohinemutu village, the water swirled through a house fi'om which the furniture had been hastily removed, while at Kgongotaha the stream rose about 15 feet, partly submerging several small outhouses, and although the w r ater did not reach the floor level of one house which was on a high foundation, the occupants were isolated throughout the day. The Tauranga and Whakatane routes to Eotorua were temporarily blocked by fallen trees and' slips, but these had been cleared sufficiently by last night to allow traffic to proceed. Many settlers in more exposed positions experienced a terrifying night. At Te Ngae a milking shed was unroofed.

The weather has now cleared and today there were indications definite of an improvement.