Slips and Blockages

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 97, 27 April 1938, Page 5

Slips and Blockages

Wairoa in Sorry Flight

HEAVY STOCK LOSSES Per Press Association. WAIBOA, Last Night. Wairoa experienced heavy weather and floods during the week-end, rain falling almost continuously on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with the result that the district is practically isolated as the result of railway stoppage and the loss of bridges and numerous slips on the main highways. Wash-outs are reported on the railway line between Wairoa and Napier and a large tunnel through the Mohaka hill is blocked at the northern end. Two spans of the upper Mohaka bridge (near the viaduct) has been swept away, and it is feared that wreckage from this bridge may carry away the old bridge at the Mohaka settlement a number of miles further down the river, thus isolating another portion of the district. Communication by telephone has broken down with Lower Mohaka, so it is surmised, but cannot be verified, that traffic by the main highway to Napier may have to make use of the huge Mohaka viaduct till the bridge is temporarily restoredAnother portion of the same highway has badly slipped at Turiroa near to Wairoa and the railway bridge across the Wairoa river may also be made use of till road communication is restored. Portion of the outskirts of Wairoa was flooded through the overflow of a large arteried dam, but this morning all flood water in the town had disapx>eared. Great anxiety was felt for the fate of the new traffic bridge across the river at the township. The river rose almost to the level of the decking, and though huge forest trees passed under the bridge, it is considered no material damage was done to the structure. Many residences were surrounded by flood waters on the northern side of the township, and occupants had to leave their dwellings.

It is reported that many heavy losses of stock occurred, particularly sheep. Two farmers are said to have lost fuily 250 horses, sheep and cattle, while it is reported that 500 sheep out of 800 in a holding paddock near the river on the Waikaremoana road were washed away and drowned. The Waikare-inoana-Rotorua highway is blocked by heavy slips in the Ohuka Gorge. The main highways to Gisborne are also blocked via Tiniroto and Morere, while slips are numerous in all other parts of tho district. The damage is considered to be extensive and will be costly to reinstate. Communication* with Nuhaka escaped much of tbe flood damage through the river entrance being open. The rainfall up to yesterday in this portion of the district was over 10 inches.

Communications were cut off with Kopuaw'hara, and settlers state that the conditions are almost as bad as when the great disaster occurred in February. There is now a slight break in the weather and the flooded rivers are subsiding. Telegraph and telephone lines to Napier are out of commission. Y’esterday only one telephone line was operating north to (fsbornc. The rainfall in Wairoa for the last 48 hours was 9.91 inches.