OPOTIKI UNDER WATER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16821, 11 April 1918, Page 4

OPOTIKI UNDER WATER.

MAIN STREET A RIVER, NEARLY FOUR FEET DEEP, _ MUCH DAMAGE TO SHOPS? ■ LIVE STOCK DROWNED. [BY TELECRArn.— CfIRRESPOSDX|f|.I . WHAKATANE. Wednesday. , News from Opotiki states that the township has been under water since early th : i morning, as a result of the heavy ralnj which have fallen. Great damage haj been done to business premises and re»i. dences, but, although there have been, some narrow escapes, no loss of life ;, reported. Rescue parties, with horses and boats, have been working all day. total of 6.7 in of rain fell at Whakatane during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to. day, most of it during the night. Tut rain is now ceasing here. Details of the position at Opotiki are meagre, for communication by telegraph and telephone has been interrupted con. sidcrably, owing to the storm. At 7 a.m. to-day the main street at Opotiki vraj 3ft to 4ft under water, and the various business premises were flooded. The stock in the store of Messrs. Bridgets, Ltd. i suffered to the extent of £200, and all the hands have been employed sines 6 a.m. shifting it to higher ground. Th« shop of Mr. F. Duval], chemist, is flooded to a depth of 2ft, while the waters rose to such an extent that the horses in Mr. W. B. Kelly stables wero released, and. it is stated, had to swim to higher ground to save themselves. Many other shopi and stores suffered heavily, the water is some cases being over the counters, while heavy losses of live stock from the surrounding district are reported. Refugen are being sheltered at the residence of the postmaster, the convent, and the van. ous hotels and boardinghouses. Comparatively little damage has beer) done at Whakatane, although the flood, waters are up to tho edge of the wharf, and most of the low lying flats are covered. The usual motor service from Rotorua arrived on time, but cars were unable to negotiate the road to Ope tiki. The road between Whakatane and Taneatua is blocked, owing to there being about 4ft of water on the road near Keegan's Bridge. Through passengers to Opotiki had, therefore, to remain at Whakatane this evening. There is expected to be little loss- of stock in this district, as most of it has been driven to higher ground. The Northern Steamship Company's steamers Daphne and Tasman are shelter, ing in the Whakatane River.

Opotiki, which ha* a population of about 1000, is situated at the junction of the Waioeka and Otora Rivers, about one mile inland from the Bay of Plenty. It is 169 milei by sea from Auckland. The surrounding land is low-lying and comparatively easily flooded. It »i the centre Jof a district which is rapidly growing in importance awl prosperity. Originally it was famed principally for its maize crops, but of recent years dairying has been carried on extensively. Tho town itself is built on low-lying flat country.