DAM BREAKS AWAY

Northern Advocate, 5 March 1929, Page 7

DAM BREAKS AWAY

CATARACT AT MT. EDEN.

AUCKLAND SENSATION:

(Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Monday. At 5.30 o’clock this morning the Mt. Edeii Underground reservoir, with a capacity of 1,250,000 gallons, supplying a large area of the city and suburbs j burst with a roar which was heard a mile away.

The water rushed down the mountainside, taking a bourse mainly along, what is known ad tie. drive. The greater; part went into a disused quarry, hut a huge stream swept down the hillside on to the maid road, gradually getting away over the sloping land on either, side of the road. This morning it was impassable for traffic, the tram service being held up and relief was provided by buses. The debris covered the road for half a mile with silt, lumps of concrete and excavating tools and plant. There was only little damage to property. In some places the water covered lawns a foot deep, but apparently did no other damage. Fortunately, nobody was about at that early hour. The rush of water lasted for half an hour. The whole of one side of the square reservoir carried away and the cause of the disaster was apparently excavation work for extension of the reservoir. FURTHER DETAILS. ; A LUCKY ESCAPE DAMAGE GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Monday.

Had the Mount Eden dam burst three hours later, 30 min would have been working on the new reservoir and nothing could have saved them; they would have been caught like rats in a trap. One slab of concrete wall, 39 by 21 feet, weighing 32 tons, was carried 80 feet by the force of the water.

It is impossible to estimate the damage caused. Mr lingers engineer to the Mount Eden Borough Council, says that the damage is so extensive that it is impossible at present to give any estimate. The damage to the streets will amount to some thousands of pounds. The dam had a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons, but at the time of the burst contained 800,000 gallons. A very large area of the city and suburban water supply is affected. Temporary arrangements have been made to tide over the period until the normal supply is resumed.