SERIOUS FLOODS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19611, 18 April 1938, Page 7

SERIOUS FLOODS

DELUGE IN TARANAKI

WORST m MANY YEARS

SLIPS ON HIGHWAYS

SERIOUS DISORGANISATION

(Per Pross Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. Slips on almost every road and on the railway line, bridges washed away and washouts were caused by the most serious floods for years in the east Taranaki district. They followed prolonged torrential rain in the aroa between Whangamomona and Stratford. Yesterday communication by road was completely disorganised and with the whole district affected it appears likely to be some time before the usual contacts will be fully restored. The flood was easily the worst for 10 years. Rain began to fall on Wednesday and became heavier on Thursday, and through the night came down in sheets with scarcely a break until it eased yesterday afternoon. In the meanwhile, rivers normally little more than creeks had been swollen by the rains souring off the hills, the soil of which is not very porous, and steep hillsides began to slide. Bringing 370 passengers for Taranaki and Wanganui from Auckland and the Main Trunk stations, a train that left Auckland at 10 o'clock on Thursday night arrived at 2.15 a.m. io-day, instead of 9.30 a.m. yesterday.

Floods and torrential rain were reported on Mount Egmont during the past few days. The worst flood for several years occurred in the Kapuni River at Daw.son Falls on Wednesday night and the site of. the old power house was completely covered. Rain winch fell at the North Egmont Hostel on Tuesday overflowed the rain gauge, which measured up to llin.

SWIFT RISE OF RIVER

CANTERBURY DAMACI

(Per Prnss Association.) ASHBURTON. this day

As a result of heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday, the Rakaia River rose about 9ft. in the most serious flood for several years. Damage estimated at between £3OO and £4OO was caused at the traffic bridge construction works. The boxing for the concrete of the span at one end was swept away and the boxing at the other end was damaged. At its full height the water covered the decking of the old bridge. Four of six huts of railway workmen were flooded to a depth of 4ft. or oft. The occupants moved lo others on higher land.

A narrow escape was experienced when a worker, who was saving equipment, was washed against an electric power supply wire carrying 400 volts. The man was thrown against the foreman who was unable to move. Another man promptly removed the two uninjured.