CANOES AT OHURA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23591, 27 February 1940, Page 9

CANOES AT OHURA

PEOPLE LEAVE HOMES STEEL BRIDGE WASHED AWAY MEN IN HUT MOVED BY SLIP [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] TAUMARUNUI, Monday All level sections in Ohura township were under water yesterday. There was 15 inches of water in the County Council chambers and 3ft. of water in the Catholic Church. Some houses had up to four inches of water over the floors and many people had to leave their homes. The town had a Venetian aspect on Sunday with canoes gliding up and down the main street. Tokirima' is in a dreadful state and the whole of the county roads are blocked with slips. It will bo several days before access to Ohura township will bo made from any direction. Mr. and Mrs. J. Brown and Mr. T. Brown had to leave their home on Huia Road, a few miles from Ohura, and they lost their furniture and everything in the flood. In the house of Mr. Oliver, Tokirima, the water rose as high as the telephone box. Six men who were on a large slip between Heao and Tangarakan set out for home at 3.30 yesterday morning and took shelter in a hut. A huge slip came down and carried the hut away. The men extricated themselves and reached Ohura at 12.30 p.m. after wading waist deep through mud. News from Kaiticke says most of the settlers are isolated. On five miles of Oio Bond there are 15 wash-outs. A steel bridge on Pukeatua Road was washed away.