Severe Storm Damage in County

Northland Age, Volume XX, Issue 10, 10 November 1950, Page 1

Severe Storm Damage in County

AHIPARA HILLS L ASHED BY TWO RAINSTORMS In the early hours of Tuesday nu riling, the eastein county was la-he 1 by a heavy thunderstoin between the hours of 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., there being registered 3.05 inches of rain. On the same day through the same hours in Kaitaia, there was only .-*5 inches registered, with .36 registered after 9 a.m. On Wednesday at about midday, residents of Kaitaia saw heavy thunderheads gathering over tha An,para Point, and though it we- thought that the rain might approach Kaitaia, hardly a drop of rain fell, yet some thing over 4 inches was registered in that area and through the Herekino Gorge, to the degree t’-at slips have started, with the creeping d p of earlier in the year looking as though it will be particularly trouble some. In a matter of minutes, the creek on the northern site of the gorge had risen to over three feet on the road, and every piece of flatiand was a lake. Small slips had occurred thiough the Gorge, and motorists were held up by flood waters, and as the waters receded they were able to go ahead at a very slow pace iu ordc - to be safe. Yesterday, residents of that area in the morning were recovering from the shock of the previous day’s deluge when about 11 a.m. the clouds began to gather once again in that area, and within half an hour the flood gates of the skies were opened once again.

For a few hours, the rain fell in sheets, and again the creek rose until it was nearly font feet over the road at Mr. Claud Berghan’s front gate. Once again something over 4 inches of rain fell 'n a short time, and Kaitaia’s only rain wa« a short heavy shower in the iate afternoon, whilst, further north there was no vestige of rain. Gardens in the Ahipara area have become almost non-existent, and the Gorge Road has suffered very heavily by way of minor slips, whilst Mr. Berghan, on whose property it is, reports that the creeping slip ■ = on the way, and migh’ yet prove to be of great inconvenience to motorists.

Mr. A. M. Theed, County Engineer, reports that the damage tone in the eastern county is not so severe as it first appeared, though damage was done, and a considerable amount of not anticipated expense will be involved in maki’ g repairs to roads in that area. Mr. Theed reports also that though these heavy rains fell in the Gorge area, damage done was only of a minor nature, there b ing considerable scouring and a few small slips. Takahue yesterday also received its fair share ul this heavy rain, there being registerc' l there some four inches of rainfall, and the creek was swollen in short order bringing down logs and debris. No damage was done tc roads in this area either, other than scouring and a few small slips.