TWO DROWNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23021, 26 April 1938, Page 10

TWO DROWNED

GISBORNE DISTRICT ABNORMAL. RAINFALL TRAFFIC ROUTES BLOCKED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE [bt telegbaph—own correspondent] GISBORNE, Sunday Although the Gisborne district apparently suffered less than in the re cent flood that caused the tragedy at Kopuawhara abnormal rainfall throughout the week-end resulted in the district being again isolated. The north Toad was reopened at mid-day to-day, but other roads are likely to remain closed for some days. Two fatalities occurred, the victims being: — Maki Morepl, a Maori, aged 24. Mr. Donald McLaren, a watersider, single, aged 64. Morepi was drown in an attempt to cross the flooded Waiapu Kiver near Tikitiki yesterday. In spite of a warning he tried to cross the ford on horseback. His horse was found later on the bank, but there was no sign of the rider. Mr. McLaren was found drowned at the Waikanae Creek, Gisborne, yesterday morning by the beach caretaker. He had apparently slipped on the footbridge and fallen into the flooded creek. Plight of Wairoa For the 48 hours up to nine o'clock this morning, 5.90 in. of rain fell, of which nearly sin. was reported for the last 24 hours. The rain ceased this morning, but intermittent showers fell later in the day, and to-night it set in again fairly steadily. The worst damage appears to have occurred to the southward.

At Wairoa the river overflowed and flooded the Marine Parade, invaded shops and bouses and lapped the decking of the bridge. On both the Napier and Gisborne sides of Wairoa the road is closed in numerous places as the result of slips and damaged bridges. At Muriwai, a few miles from Gisborne, a temporary bridge erected a few weeks ago, was washed away, and large areas of land were again inundated. Much damage was doue to restoration work that had been carried out since the last flood. Deluge at Tokomaru Bay Dead stock are lying about, but it is not thought the loss in this direction will be heavy, as ample earning had been given. Sheep and cattle are huddled on higher ground, for paddocks surrounding them lie under 1 " as ! much as four feet of water.

On the East Coast the rain was much heavier than in Gisborne. Tokomaru Bay reported 12in. in the last 48 hours, of which 8.19 in. fell during the 24 hours before nine o'clock this morning. Two bridges in the township were damaged, but temporary repairs enabled cars to pass. Houses in the township were threatened and deposits of silt up to a foot in depth surrounded some homes. The hotel itself escaped, but the tennis court is again buried under a mass of debris. Further up the coast all communications were severed, and it was reported that most roads were again blocked.