Township Inundated

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 40, 17 February 1938, Page 2

Township Inundated

CLOUDBURST ON BAY OF PLENTY COAST Per P ’ess Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. Boulders, trees and debris were swept down the hillside, small streams were swollen beyond all proportion, streets were inundated, roas and rail traffic was seriously dislocated, and at least two houses were tnreatened by flood waters, • following a cloudburst at Matata to-day, lying at the foot of u strip of hilly country on the Bay of Plenty coast. The township suffered severely, although the actual structural damage resulting from several hours of torrential rain is reported to be slight. In the middle of the afternoon the township was practically surrounded by deep lagoons a id-swift-flowing torrents of water. The creeks rose with amazing rapidity, and the main street was very soon a turbulent river, charged with boulders and debris. The township was robbed of its water supply when the dam, which was situated in- a gully in the hills, burst under the weight of the enormous volume of flood water. Numerous slips on the Mai-Taneatua road suspended motor traffic between Te Puke..and Matata, and a fairly serious slip and subsidence on the railway line held up the railway service this afternoon. Owing to the lack of communication, only meagre derails are available to the extent of the damage, but it is anticipated that full repairs will not be effected for several days.