EAST COAST SEAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23096, 22 July 1938, Page 10

EAST COAST SEAS

WHAKATANE SPECTACLE VESSELS SEEK SHELTER PINE PLANTATION DAMAGED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHAKATANE, Thursday Seas described as the heaviest for years are running at high water all along the Bay of Plenty coast. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to-dav, huge wares breaking on the beach and the Whakatane Heads presented a spectacular sight. The spray was thrown 50ft. or 60ft. up the cliff face at Kohi Point. Breakers were coming over the sand spit at Opihi on the western-side of the harbour entrance. Here tho sandhills were levelled for a distance of about 300 yards. A portion of a 13-year-old pinus insignia plantation, owned by the Whakatane Harbour Board, was uprooted by the seas, which forced a channel through to tho harbour. Opihi is an ancient Maori cemetery, which is still in use. Some anxiety was felt by the Maoris at possible damage to the graves The waves sweeping into the harbour backed up the river and in some places the water came across the Heads road, causing minor damage. Several coastal vessels were sheltering in tho leo of Whale Island, live miles off-shore, but it was reported this evening that they had sought a more secure anchorage. Another vessel, the Waiotahi, ran into Ohiwa Harbour and will be forced to stay there until the sea moderates considerably. At Matata the waves were running heavily on the sandhills separating the lagoon from the sea, but no damage was reported. Mr. F. J. Burt, one of the oldest residents, said that the seas were the heaviest for 30 or 40 years and. in the old days would have caused serious flooding.

BAR UNWORKABLE POSITION AT OPOTIKI [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] OPOTIKI, Thursday Owing to heavy seas washing up sand on the Opotiki Bar, the Opotiki Harbour has been unworkable for a week and cargo for the port has been discharged at Kutarere, on the Ohiwa Harbour.

It is hoped that conditions will improve sufficiently for the running of the Northern Company's vessel to be resumed in the next few days. This is the first time the bar has given serious trouble for a long period.

AWAKINO GORGE SLIP PASSAGE CLEARED FOR CARS [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] TE KUITI, Thursday Traffic on the main highway between Te Kuiti and Waitara was completely blocked by a slip in the Awakino Gorge yesterday afternoon. The obstruction was cleared this afternoon. A gang of workmen removed enough debris by seven o'clock last evening to let a long lino of waiting cars through, but there was a further fall of earth during the night. Men were set to work again as soon as it was light this morning, but not until 2.30 p.m. was spoil removed sufficiently to permit the passage of cars.