EXPERIENCES IN THE MANGAKAHIA

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1936, Page 6

EXPERIENCES IN THE MANGAKAHIA

Mail contractors and service car owners generally are not likely to forget the great flood. Mr Webb, who runs the service through the Mangakahia, set out on his northern journey on Saturday, but he returned to Whangarei yesterday afternoon, having been given a “lift,” while his own car remains at the other side of Taylor’s Flat. He get as far as Parakao on Saturday, but it was only with difficulty that he got that far, as flood waters were rising rapidly, and were up to the lamps of the car during the last few miles of the journey. Parakao was the refuge of no less than twenty people—motorists, linesmen, and others, who were held up by the floods, and all were billeted by the settlers. Yesterday Mr Webb tried to return to Whangarei, but he could get no fui’ther than Taylor’s Flat, which was a great lake. The depth of the water was about 20 feet at the height of the flood. Though the water had fallen five or six feet when Mr Webb was there, it was impossible to see any sign of Mr W. Carruth’s garage, which has a 12-foot stud «

The flood was the biggest on record, beating that of 1917, which was the highest up to that time. The water was 8 inches to two feet above the handrail of the Titoki bridge, which means that the water, at that point, was about 68 feet d e ep.

Miles of fencing have gone, and there are stories of losses, of stock, though Mr Webb is unable to speak definitely on that matter, as the dislocation of telephones prevents, the gathering of information. Twenty men, including Maoris, “cockatoos” and others, were hard at work yesterday trying to clear away slips so as to restore communications.

Water In Houses

On Saturday night the flood was at its highest, and water entered a number of.houses and sheds to a depth of from two to seven feet, causing their occupants many anxious hours and damaging much of their contents. Losses of livestock were comparatively small. Mr D. Laing lost 18 weaner calves and Mr C. McMillan 17 pigs. After the water had subsided, large quantities of silt were deposited in its wake. Messrs Blake and Dysart being suffevers in this respect, as large quantities were required to be removed from their sheds and yards.

Extensive slips on the surrouhding hills are noticeable, and in many places they have completely crossed the roads, carrying fences and trees in their path. Opposite Mr S. Ruddell’s farm, between Parakao and Pakotai, slips extending for some chains were right across the road, and on Monday morning a start was made to clear a track to allow the passage of wheeled traffic.

As the morning advanced 76 men with shovels and spades set to with a will, and, late in ine afternoon, sufficient spoil had been shifted to allow vehicles to pass.

Saws, Axes and Shovels.

On the Kirikopuni-Parakao road a large slip with a number of trees came down on the road in the scenic reserve and during all day Monday the occupants of a total of 7 cars and trucks toiled continuously with saws, axes and shovels and ultimately won their way through, b" deviating up Coxhead’s road. Telegraph and telephone communications with Mangakahia were still dislocated at a late hour on ' Monday night. Six P. and T. men from Kaikohe are on the job, and spent Sunday night at Parakao. The line is j down in deep water on Taylor’s Flat, thus making repairs impossible. All gardens on the river flats in the valley have been destroyed, and, in many cases, crops of hay, corn and roots have suffered a like fate. Every farm abounding the river has suffered more or Jess from silt on tne pasture and it will have a very marked effect on dairy production. Early on Sunday morning a fierce wind coming from the west played havoc with crops of corn and fruit. Also dislodged a number of roofs on haystacks. The approach on the southern end of Mr J. Tim’s swing bridge has been carried away by the current.