FLOOD LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21449, 24 March 1933, Page 10

FLOOD LOSSES

CLEARING THE DEBRIS

BUSY DAY IN TAUMARUNUI

UNFORTUNATE RESIDENTS

FARMING LANDS RUINED

RESTORING DAMAGED ROADS

[BY TELEGRArn —SPECIAL REPORTER]

TAUMARUNUI, Thursday

The total loss to the community of Taumarunui caused by the flooding on Wednesday morning cannot be estimated yet. The cost to the individual residents of 150 homes which were invaded by rushing water early on Tuesday morning must alone bo several thousand pounds. In somo cases the furniture was almost entirely ruined, and household effects were swept away. Farmers in the surrounding districts were heavy losers, as much stock was drowned and fences and buildings were damaged. In some cases acres of land wero either scoured away or so covered with silt, stones or spoil as to be useless. When the cost to local authorities in the storm area in clearing roads and rebuilding bridges is added, together with" expense incurred by tho Railway Department in clearing slips and obstructions and maintaining a service under most trying conditions, tho total loss has been enormous.

Working Hard But Cheerful

Notwithstanding their personal losses and the shocking conditions in which they found their houses when they returned, residents of the river flat and Manunui havo already gone far in the work of restoration. Most of the sufferers were accommodated by other residents of the town, one man having in his house on Wednesday morning 11 occupants. To-day in nearly every house in the affected area men and women were working hard but cheerfully to clear the debris and restore their household goods. Tho day was beautifully fine and bedding, linen, carpets, clothing and curtains were hung out to dry, while silt and mud left by tho raging waters was being swept out. Thick Deposits of Silt

On the floors of some houses deposits of silt 2in. deep were found. To clear these homes the fire brigade supplied pumps and hoses, while in other cases the householders cut holes in the flooring and washed tho mud away with water through the improvised outlets. Articles of furniture were set out in the sun to dry before being cleaned of mud and slime. Deep deposits of mud were cleared away from gardens and paths. Ihe Bowling Club's green, tennis courts and the sports ground on the flat were still covered with mud several inches deep, and men could not be spared for tho task of shovelling away the deposit.

Dead stock also lay in the saleyards, none of the carcases yet having been removed. All day the Borough Council workmen repaired cracks and subsidences in tho streets, reminiscent of the aftermath of an earthquake. After clearing the mud from tho roads gangs spread shingle and metal on the most treacherous parts, while footpaths and gutters were cleared of debris. By the late afternoon the streets in the affected portion of tho town were restored to good order. Every Available Man

In all parts of the district the controlling local authorities havo put every available man, including many unemployed, to work clearing slips, filling washouts, and repairing bridges. The greatest work is where the road alongside tho railway at Manunui was blocked. Hero gangs havo been employed continuously, and although the road has now been opened, workmen are still busy widening it and filling in erosions at the rivorbank.

Ihe task of restoring communication with tho outlying country districts has been pushed ahead as fast as possible, as continued interruption is proving most serious for the farmers, many of whom havo been unable to forward 'their cream to the factories.

Ihc greatest difficulty has been experienced in the Otunui and Matiero districts, where tho settlers have been cut off since tho flood. Farmers havo been kept busy restoring buildings which were damaged, repairing fencing, and removing drowned stock. Many have lost vainable areas of fertile flat land by tho river, (either by heavy silting or erosion, while on some properties great quantities of boulders have been deposited until tho paddocks resemble riverbeds. Tho task of clearing these areas is well nigh impossible, and many settlers are disposed to regard them as completely lost. Town Water Supply

The water supply to the town, which was interrupted on Wednesday afternoon and evening by damage to the intake from tho Tunanui Stream, near Piriaka, was fully restored yesterday, while repairs to the plant at the electric-power station at Piriaka have also been completed. During the flood the water rose to the edge of the window-sills in tho power-house, and forced in the doors, causing considerable damage. No power was available on Wednesday afternoon, but as tho result of strenuous efforts a curtailed supply was available in tho evening until 11 p.m., when it was cut off. To-day permanent repairs were effected, and there will bo no further curtailment.

GAP TORN IN ROAD

TORRENT THROUGH CULVERT

EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NEEDED

[3IY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER]

TAUMARUNUI, Thursday

An inspection of part of the main south road between Ongarue and Taumarunui today gives some idea of tho serious naturo of the damage that has been done. Sixteen men aro employed between Okahukura and Taumarunui trying to effect repairs, but there is ample work for ten times that number. The road at Okahukura runs parallel with the Ongaruc River and the railway line. Just opposite tho Okahukura station there aro two slips and a wash-out within a distance of 10 chains.

The river at this point rose over 15ft. and inundated a large area of country. A trickle of water ran down a gully through a small culvert belo\y the surface of the road into the river on Tuesday. As the rain fell, the trickle developed into a stream and when the rain becamo torrential in the evening tho volume increased enormously. The stationmaster, Mr. W. T. Dick, saw. tho Ongarue River riso 2ft,. in ten minutes as he watched it by torch-light on Tuesday night. 110 was then alarmed by a rumbling noise on the opposito side of the river and ran to the higher levels for safety. Tho rumbling was succeeded by a loud clap like thunder, which signalled the collapse of tho road. It had given way under the force of the tremendous volume of water which rushed down the hillside, accompanied by heavy timber. A hole 20ft. wide and 15ft. deop was made in the road and on the side of the hole a large quantity of timber and debris was piled. Large quantities of earth have fallen across the road at other points whero tho sido of tho cuttings havo given way.