MURIWAI FLOODING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 3

MURIWAI FLOODING

LOW-LYING AREAS STREAMS SWOLLEN CROSSINGS AFFECTED (Herald Correspoiul«nt.) The experiences of 10 days ago have been repeated in the Muriwai-Manu-tuke area. ( At the low-level bridge 17 rhlles from ■tiisborne on the main highway south the road is again impassable. Here trie heavy and continuous rains of yesterday swelled the Maraetaha Stream so that.at its peak the water was approximately 3ft. 6in. over the decking. The approach on the northern side has been scoured and for half a chain has 18in. of silt, but the bridge is apparently unharmed, as the waters rose gradually and there was not the large amount of big driftwood brought down as was the case in the last two floods.

The ford, at Faulkner's Reserve, over this same stream, is, of course, impassable, the last crossing of this haviilg been made by a lorry late on Tuesday afternoon. From here north through Muriwai the road has been flooded during the night, but is now dry and clear again, except at McDowell's corner, where the water js running 4in. deep over the metal. : Paddocks on the eastern side of the main road in Muriwai and those lying towards the beach are partially or wholly covered with water, the most severely affected being those lying under the coastal hills. Little damage is reported, although at the height of the gale some branches of trees were broken off and a few small trees have been brought down. The approach road to the beach was still covered this morning and settlers there were temporarily isolated. . The railway embankment from Muriwai towards Manutuke is just clear of the water. Nearly to Fence Tops Between the Waipaoa River and the Muriwai Beach the low-lying country is again completely inundated. The water, this morning, was nearly to the fence tops on most of this country and in the worst portion covered • the fences. Radio warnings issued at intervals last evening gave the settlers .ample time to remove stock, but the repetition of these floods must mean a considerable monetary loss Ho all of those concerned. "

Many more small slips are down iri the hill country lying inside the main road but none of a serious nature. Streams throughout the district are much swollen, the bigger ones running bank high. The Muriwai Beach has had much more driftwood deposited by the Waipaoa, while the huge volume of water brought down 'by this river overnight has discoloured the sea for some distance across the bay. For cars to move anywhere on grassed areas chains have proved necessary and one settler who essayed a muddy gateway last evening was unfortunate. The car was stuck and the rising waters entered it.

The Public Works Department's engineer inspected the roads and the Maraetaha crossing this morning. The work of clearing the bridge approach will be proceeded with immediately to restore road communication as far as Faulkner's Reserve. Nothing can be done here but await the falling of the Waters.