WAIKAREMOANA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17472, 22 January 1931, Page 6

WAIKAREMOANA

NO WATER SHORTAGE FEARS ARE GROUNDLESS (Special to the Herald.) WAIRO'A, this day. During his residence in Wairoa of 55 years, a settler recalled to-day, there had been several greater droughts than the one just ended.. Vet the WaikareTaheke and the, Waiau had never run dry. "As long as the many beautiful falls about, YVaikaremoana continue to discharge such volumes of water as the respective rivers carry then so long can the head of the department feel very much at ease," he stated. "The area and depth of the lake bed are so great that if the lake were dry to-morrow it would take about 15 years to fill it again, and inversely about as' long to empty it." -

Inquiries made from tho Tnai office this morning elicited the reply that up to a short while back the lake has been at a normal level. Just now the level is dropping slightly, but nothing whatever has occurred to cause the department any anxiety.

There have been in the past very low levels, and also very high levels. About 15 or 16 years ago, during a prolonged drought, the level fell so much that some distance out in the lake from the outlet, the late Mr. W. A. Neale was able to locate the boats sunk during the abortive expedition against the Hauhaus by Colonel Herrick. Then, in. 1871 and 1876. there occurred the biggest flpods recorded in the history of the Maoris. In 1871 the lake rose to a great height, submerging all the area' where the landing jetty is now situated and a good part of the bush which now shades the pathway down front Lake House. At j,he Onepoto end the waters rose so high that at one time it was feared that they would overflow and carry destruction down the valley. It was on this occasion that all the Orengitirohia and Awatere blocks on tho north side of the river were flooded, native-owned houses, a church, and much stock being carried away and swept out to sea. There was also a very heavy flood in 1876, when rain fell from January 2 to February 2; almost without a stop, but Waikaremoaria did not then rise as high as in 1871, the fall beingi more coastal.