TARANAKI FLOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22505, 25 February 1935, Page 10

TARANAKI FLOODS

ESTIMATES OF DAMAGE PLIGHT OF NEW PLYMOUTH COUNTRY DISTRICTS SUFFER SEVERELY (Per United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 23. With receding flood waters,, New Plymouth people this morning were able more accurately to estimate the damage to stocks, which is believed to exceed f 20,000. The most. severe losses are suffered by Messrs Hooker Brothers, bond stores, £5000; and Messrs Devine and Co., wine and spirit merchants, £2500. Much structural damage has been done to buildings, but the full extent cannot be estimated for some? days. Several premises are not yet open for business. ' From New Plymouth to Stratford and thence east to Ohura the railway services are still completely disrupted by washouts and slips.' It is hoped that trains will be able to leave New Plymouth about the middle of next week, but it is not known when the Stratford main trunk line will be open. Eight slips have been reported between Tahora and Tangarakau alone, and it is feared that the total damage to the line wiil be very heavy. Repairs are proceeding on the main highways and bridges, but south-bound traffic from New Plymouth is still forced to use the route to Hawera and Stratford via Opunake, Railway passengers in and out of New Plymouth are being taken by bus over this route.

EFFECTS IN HAWERA COUNTY from Hawera states that flood damage estimated at many thousands was the result of 24 hours' rain up to mid-day yesterday, but the full extent will not be known until a more extensive survey has been made. Since yesterday practically no rain has fallen, and to-day the rivers and streams are more or less back to normal.

The authorities to-day had their first opportunity to survey their losses, and according to estimates the damage to the roads and bridges in the area controlled by the Hawera County Council' will cost £20,000 to repair, The council at a special meeting this morning decided to make application to the Government for urgent financial assistance. Provision has been made for the erection of a temporary bridge to replace the Tangahoe bridge, which has been washed away, and it is expected that operations will be commenced within the next few days. In the meantime all traffic to and from the .south is being diverted, through Ohangai, where the road has been cleared. \t was a fortunate circumstance that the Manawapou bridge held during the flood, for had it "broken it would have severed the final link between Hawera and the'south. The structure was given a severe buffeting, by logs and debris from the back country, but so far as can be ascertained it suffered no structural damage. The Tangahoe Valley presents a scene of desolation. Culverts have have been blocked with rubbish, while the approaches to several bridges have been washed out. It is anticipated that, the clearing of the debris will take several monthss ' f A NARROW ESCAPE Advices from Wanganui state that the river has now subsided. At its highest point yesterday it was several feet lower than the record of 1904. Large quantities of driftwood and other debris have been carried out to sea, and also a number of boats. Three men had a narrow escape trying to salvage a launch- which was adrift. The boat capsized, but the men scrambled on to ; the bridge, and the launch Was subsequently towed ashoro. lower down the considerably damaged. Practically no local damage has been reported, and the weather is now clearing.- The Wanganui River roads are still blocked by slips. A RAPID IMPROVEMENT GOOD PROGRESS WITH REPAIR WORK (Per United Press Association) ' NEW PLYMOUTH,. February 24. Fine weather prevailed in • Taranaki to-day. 1 Rapid progress is being made with the restoration of broken communications, and all through. roads are now negotiable with limited loads and the exercise of care. • .-■''■«,, The washouts ofl the main New Ply-mouth-Wellington railway and the line from Taranaki to Auckland present the greatest problem, but official opinion is that the slips will be cleared and the washouts repaired, enabling the resumption of both services in about two days time. A breakdown', train is still marooned by slips on the Stratford line, but a survey has shown that the damage is not so severe as was at first supposed. Pumping is Still" proceeding in Borne ot the basements in New Plymouth, and business Hirms have been busy salvaging and drying their soaked stock.