NORTH-EASTERLY STORM

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 68, 10 August 1938, Page 2

NORTH-EASTERLY STORM

RIVERS RISE RAPIDLY 'v .5- » / \p>: ' v , • WAIOTAHI HOUSE UNROOFED WAIOEKyV ROAD BLOCKED . 14 SLH?S IN 11 AiILEB , A very strong north-easterly gale was experienced in the Opotiki. district last night. Rain coinmenced to fall early in the day and the wind gradually increased until it reached gale force early in the evening. Some very heavy gusts were experienced in the night and( damage occurred in some parts of the district. Early in the morning the wind abated and a heavy thunder storm passed over the district, the lightning causing the siren to sound.

Early this morning rivers commenced to rise rapidly and stock were caught by the rising waters in some of the paddocks, but no losses have been reported. The Waioeka river was in heavy flood this morning and all low-lying land was covered to a good depth. No flooding was reported at AVaiotahi but the coast rivers are stated, to be in flood. The road at Torcre was covered for a, time but was soon clear again. The Keren river is in high flood. The Waiotahi valley which usually gives trouble did not experience a very heavy rainfall and the river there was not very. high. Flooding occurred on the low-lying part of the Taneatua-Whakataue main highway. A good deal of slipping occurred in the Waioeka gorge road, the first slip being reported at Okiore, about 20 miles from Opotiki. For the next 11 miles it is stated that fourteen slips have come down. Service-cars left Opotiki with the. intention of trying to have passengers transferred over the< slips.

Telephonic communication throughout the district was considerably interrupted as a result of the storm, and communication with Gisborne was cut off this morning.

iron was removed from a number of buildings, the wors,t damage occurring at Waiotahi, where a fourroomed house owned by Mr Magnus 'Anderson and occupied bv Air and Airs Gate was unroofed and the occupants had to seek shelter elsewhere. Trees and wireless masts suffered to

Reports from the Otar a district show that the gale was exceptionally violent in that district and many trees were uprooted. A large number of big pine trees surrounding Air R. .V. Hedlev’s residence on the Otura road, were blown light over, huge masses of earth being lifted with the roots. ai minor extent.

The rainfall for the 12-t hours was 1.20 indies on the coast, hut the fall inland was verv milch heavier.