FLOOD ON PLAINS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32873, 23 June 1947, Page 5

FLOOD ON PLAINS

LARGE AREA AFFECTED DAMAGE AT KOPUARAHI HIGH TIDE FRIDAY NIGHT An exceptionally high tide, driven by a strong north westerly wind, combined with flood waters in the Piako river to flood hundreds of acres in the Kopuarahi district on Friday night, and the water has not yet receded. Houses in the locality were isolated while in one house the flood waters covered the floor. Fortunately there was little loss of stock as most of the animals were able to take refuge on the higher parts of the stopbank, but a few pigs were drowned. The high tides came over the stopbank near the Pipiroa ferry and .spread over the surrounding country, right up to the Horahia bank, a distance of approximately a mile and a half, and as a result of the strong current the stopbank has been washed .almost completely away. The flood did not at first break through the bank but merely topped it and. then rushed inland. Next day’ the flood waters broke through a culvert in the direction of the Kopuarahi factory and on Sunday the flood had not fallen but was still rising.

Among the farms affected by the flood are those owned by Messrs L. Mora, L. Candy, H. Hale, L. Mauldey, Ben and Mack Millar, while all the low country on the shellbank farmed by Messrs Smeed Bros, was also flooded.

Mr L. Mora’s house was completely surrounded by the water which was over three feet deep and flowing through the house. The bank- which the flood waters topped is one to receive attention under the scheme at present being worked .by the Hauraki United Drainage Board in conjunction with the Lands Department. It is proposed to raise the bank and strengthen it when necessary machinery was available. A large portion of the newly constructed stopbank at the back of the Christie Estate and the property of Mr J. Bowen was also damaged by flood water, the wave lap washing away a large section of the bank on the outside. Although the damage in this locality is serious, • fortunately the flood did not breach the stopbank. When the area was visited by a 'Gazette representative this morning the flood waters had receded a little hut large areas were completely covered with water. WAITAKARURU FLOODED township deep in water The Waitakaruru township had more than two feet of water over the main road on Friday night and the flood spread from the township to the canal near the dairy factory. Although the water was deep in the township fortunately it did not rise high enough to enter the shops, but

outhouses were badly flooded.

The flood also topped the bank of the Karita canal between Waitakaruru and Miranda spreading into the surrounding country. Friday night’s high tide was the first to top this canal since the stopbanks were constructed some 15 years ago. The flood also topped the stopbank in various places between Waitakaruru and the Karita canal but the flood water soon got away next day. Commenting on the flood Mr C. W. Parfitt, cffhirman of the Hauraki Plains West Drainage Board, said that the settlers in the area between Pipiroa and Waitakaruru receive protection from the high ti.de from the new stopbank recently constructed along the foreshore. In his opinion the high tide on Friday night was every bit as high as that which did so ■much damage when it flooded the country years ago. “The levy of 1/per acre which property owners have been called upon to pay is cheap insurance for the protection they have against floods,” added Mr Parfitt.

There was considerable flooding in the Miranda area and the Miranda road is still under water. The high tide also did considerable damage to the roadway near Kaiaua and in places washed it completely away, leaving only the beach for traffic to pass along. The bridge at the limeworks was completely covered by the tide.

In the Ngatea area the Piako river topped the stopbank from the point where the dredge is working right up almost to the factory, flooding some 400 acres of land. The water had receded by Sunday. Properties affected ■were those farmed by Messrs N. Burke, W. F. Jones, T. Leonard, F. W.

Morrow, and part of the Paul Estate. At the Pipiroa ferry the tide topped the stopbank where thb roadway crosses it and the houses at the ferry were surrounded with water eight inches deep on Friday night, while farmers on the area near the coast were worried during that period.