ONRUSH OF WATER

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 297, 14 November 1929, Page 2

ONRUSH OF WATER

GRAPHIC FLOOD STORY. LAST SIGHT OF VICTIM. PAEROA, Nov. 13. Tho theory advanced by bushnien living near Maratoto as to tho enuso of tho disaster there on Saturday, iu which a miner lost his life, is that a cloudburst on tho ranges precipitated a landslide nearly a mile long, which dannned tho Whakamoehau Creek. Behind this wall of earth and rock and uprooted trees the imprisoned and rapidly-rising creek waters gradually gathered weight, until tho wall was sent booming down the narrow valley waterod by tho Hikutaia Stream. Mrs Pratt, wife of the storekeeper at the little mining settlement, escaped tho rush of the avalanche by a few yards. She described it as “a 20ft wall of mud and water, thundering down the gully.” Another eye-witness, describing his experiences, said: “I liad just entered my hut when I heard a terrific roar. Running out, I saw a wall of w.ater 14 ft high tearing down the Wlinkamoohau Valley, wuiere only a little while before the stream had lowered somewhat. It was a terrifying sight. Tho mass of water coming towards us twirled 30ft logs about like a drummajor twirling a baton. Peals of terrific thunder broke right overhead and blinding flaslies of lightning wore zig-zagging all over the place. The clouds just seemed to empty themselves of water.

TENT CRUSHED BY LOG. “Sudenly just before -the stream reached the huts it divided, one part leaving the ]aed and going clean through the settlement. Before the stream broke Mr Harold Sparkes dashed into the hut in which Mrs Spencer and her child were sleeping. He carried the child and rushed Mrs Spencer to safety, a fraction separating them from death. When they looked round a kauri log 20ft long and sft round, brought down by the torrent, was lifted high in the air and crashed down on tho tent, driving tho beds occupied a moment beforo into the earth. “A four-roomed wharo usually occupied by eight men began to move and was drawn into the water. It was gathering speed when to my horror I saw Porey Brunton appear in tho doorway. Ho stood there a moment and then the water coming from behind caught him and flung him headlong into the torrent below. I saw him fling up his arms onco and tlion he disappeared.” DEBRIS AND DAMAGED MOTORS. For milos along the banks of the Hikutaia Stream logs anti debris havo been deposited on land never previously topped by water. Among this aro the splintered remnants of iurniture and shreds of clothing from tho huts and wharcs engulfed in tho avalanche.

A light delivery motor-van was carried sUyds downstream and dropped on a bank right side up apparently undamaged. A car was found in a crushed heap on the roadsido, while 60yds away tho radiator was extricated from a pile of splintered wood. It is impossible as yet to estimate tho dpmago, which is known to have been greater than at first supposed. All lowlying roads and farms in tho Thames and Ohinemuri counties were flooded with the exception,of a stretch at Kirikiri, which has been rendered, immune from flooding by the' straightening of a stream by the Public Works Department. A small bridge on Clarke’s Road, Omaliu, was washed away, while on the Maratoto Rond aro minor washouts and slips. A further slight erosion has sot in at tho wash-out at tho bend of tho river between the Alley Memorial Gates and iho bridge, which will require immediate inspection, and possibly some attention to prevent a further landslide. BRIDGE BEYOND REPAIR. The Komata wooden bridge on tho Paoroa-Thamcs highway was so badly damaged that it will havo to bo replaced. Soveral supports and stringers were torn out of place and tho bridge sagged badly in the middle. At Paeroa Normanby Road and Belmont Road were flooded in some parts. A total rainfall of 2.45 in was rogistorod for the day. Service cars from Auckland to Paeroa, and other motor vehicles on tho road, were held up by Bft of water on the Mangatawhiri Valley Road for several hours. A valuable three-year-old Jorsoy bull, owned by Messrs Tizard Brothers, of Kerepeehi, was struck dead by lightning near a wire fence. Tho waters have now subsided everywhere and normal traffic conditions are restored.