TERRIFIC RAINFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21448, 23 March 1933, Page 8

TERRIFIC RAINFALL

RECORD AT THE CHATEAU |

POWER PLANT WRECKED

GUESTS UNABLE TO LEAVE

[by telegraph—own correspondent] THE CHATEAU, Wednesday

Except for telephone communication the ||i Chateau has now been isolated from the |I outside world for 30 hours. Since' the I bridge over the Whakapapanui River was, ll washed away yesterday afternooii a gang * of 22 men from the Public Works and | Prison Departments and members of the f| Chateau staff have been endeavouring to erect a new low-level bridge to take its il placei. In the meantime no one can reach the Chateau or leave it

Thirty people who intended visiting the hotel to-day found they were-unable to cross the flooded stream, and they had to return the way they had come. Several guests who wished to leave the hotel were unable to do so, and now find themselves stranded with little hope of departing before Friday. They include a parjty of Australian visitors, whose tour of the Dominion has thus been unexpectedly thrown out of g6ar.

"Wd ars fortunate in having ample stores of food in hand," said the manager of the Chateau, Mr. R. Cobbe, this evening. "As it would be unwise, however, to wait for the completion of the new bridge, we have succeeded in running a wire rope over the stream so that fresh foodstuffs can be brought in.". Some idea of the extraordinary nature of the downpour which wrought the damage may be gauged from the fact that no less than 17in. of rain fell last night. Rocks which had stood in the Whakapapanui River for many years were swept downstream, the roar made by their progress down the creek-bed keeping people awake all night. Not a vestige remains of the broken bridge; it has been swept completely away. At 10 o'clock last night another bridge was destroyed. It was the structure recently built over the Whakapapanui above the Chateau. on what is known as the new mountain road. The headworks of the hydro-electric works have disappeared, and part of the "waterworks on which the hotel depends for its water supply has been destroyed. The stream has changed its course in several places and at certain points is chains away from its original course. The bridge over the Whakapapanui on the main Toakaana Road was covcired by 3ft. of water during the height of the flood and this morning, reposing on the planks, were boulders so large that two men could not lift them.

The road to Taumarunui is completelyblocked by washouts -and slips. Gangs of men from Taumarunui. are working on the obstructions, but it may bei days before the road is clear. Motorists report that the road to Tokaanu is only slightly damaged and that traffic can negotiate the obstructions with some difficulty. The warm rain has now melted all the ice on the Whakapapa Glacier,"which presents a most unusual sight.