Strange Scenes At Midnight In Whangarei

Northern Advocate, 3 February 1936, Page 6

Strange Scenes At Midnight In Whangarei

HURRIED EVACUATION FROM FLOODED HOMES

rpHE SPEED WITH WHICH THE . WATER ROSE, AND THE HEIGHT REACHED WITHIN A VERY FEW HOURS, ADDED ASPECTS OF DANGER/ TO THE FLOOD.

Particularly was this so in the Walton Street and Factory Road locality, where many people had to hastily abandon their homes, some remaining in occupation until the last possible moment.

Perhaps the most terrifying experience of all was that of Mrs W. J. Schute, who, carrying a three weeks’ old baby in her arms, waded through water up to her hips, escaping from her home in Factory Road to board a rescuing lorry. So great was the strain of the experience that she fainted on two occasions. An S.O.S. The flood was lapping over the verandah when Mr Schute, who had heen working on Victoria. Bridge, answered an 5.0.5., and returned home. With his help, the large family was carried to safety. Mr Schute himself did not leave until 11.30, when he waded up to his armpits out of the front door. - A shed, 40 feet by 20 feet, in which he stored his half-ton truck, was completely demolished by the Waiarohia Stream, which, at this point, takes a sharp 'bend.

Portion of the timber and iron were washed against his dwelling, and so, fortunately, was the truck, which lay there at a drunken angle, amongst the debris this morning. Had it not been checked by the walls of the house, it would have been swept away, a total loss. Within the house the flood waters reached a depth of nearly three feet. The level of the previous flood, still marked on the walls, showed a foot lower. '

Occupants of a neighbouring house had moved out the previous day.

Rescue Scenes.

Many rescue scenes and hurried evacuations were witnessed in Walton Street, where a dozen residences were entered by the water, Mr E. Prbuse, who lives at 9 Walton Street, first rescued Mrs Hill, a neighbour, and then carried his wife and family out by the similar method of pick-a-back. Wallpapers were ruined, some to a height of three feet in this locality, and furniture stored on the highest possible did not altogether escape damage. The .southern side of Walton Street suffered less consequences, although the water swilled through Haftfiefs offices, through Lovatt’s joinery factory, and entered the Post and Telegraph depot, where great care was takeh v to preserve the/delicate apparatus. \

The houses in 'VVater Street escaped, and at one smdsll place eight Walton Street refugees'*-, were bedded for the night. ’ \ Wakened by Swirling Waters.

Two families in Potd Avenue were unable to spend Saturday night at home. In both cases the\ occupants of the houses affected had retired to bed, but were awakened by tho quick rise of the water in the Waiarohia Stream, which flanks the end of the street, and had to make a quick \ getaway. Three adults and one child in Mr R. Shaw’s home were \ awakened about 11 p.m. to find the (water lapping their front doorstep. It was still rising, and soon seven inches of water lay in every, room.

Fearing a further sudden rise, they quickly quit the premises and spent the rest of the nsght with friends.

On returning this morning i they found silt and mud deposits in every room, and even in wardrobes. Carpets were ruined, but the water did

Families Move Out To Drier Quarters

not rise high enough to do any further extensive damage.

Opposite Shaw’s, the home of Mr and Mrs C. O. Child was as an island in the yellow sea, and the water here, too, was fringing the upper steps.

Fearing the worst,' the occupants hastily vacated the house and slept elsewhere. They were lucky, however, in that the water did not enter their home.

Mrs Shaw describes the latest as the worst flood during her 50 years’ residence in Whangarei.