THREE VALLEYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 9

THREE VALLEYS

HEAVY RAIN FALLING

IIANGATU UP 2FT IN HOUR

RAPID RISE AT TE KARAKA

NO SIGN OF EARLY RELIEF

: :Further (serious flooding in the Poverty Bay district was foreshadowed by messages received by the chairman of the Poverty Bay River Dbard, Mr. W. C. Pilmer, at 2.30 pirn, to-day, from settlers in the Mangatu, Wa"ipaoa, and Waikohu valleys. : Heavy rain was reported from all three of the big catchment areas from which the Waipaoa River draws its waters. The Mangatu River was Stated to be rising at the rate of 2ft. an hour, while the Waipaoa also was rising, .but "less quickly, and the Waikohu was carrying a huge volume of water as its tribute to the main stream. The Waikohu is the first of the three streams to affect the level of the river in its lower reaches, and at 2.30 p.m. its flow was making itself felt. in. a rapid rise of the Waipaoa at Te Karaka, where the wide bed was filling at the rate of a 6in. increase in depth per hour. This rise will be accelerated when the volume of water rushing down from the Mangatu and the Waipaoa \falleys begins to reach the lower levels.

"Not Too Hopeful"

:/'The situation is not too hopeful," stated Mr. Pilmer, reviewing the information, available. "Last week the Waipa'da rose from a normal autumn level tb\the danger-point in the course q( a few hours. This week it has only to fill the top half of its bed before it threatens to flood the flats at Waerenga-a-hika; for the influence of last- week's flooding has not entirely disappeared, and at midday today the river was half-full at Wae-renga-a-hika. "There is a chance that the rain in the back-country will ease Off, and that the peak of the down-coming flood will not coincide with the flood tide in the Waipaoa's course across the Poverty Bay flats. The critical period wi'.l be between 9 and 10 o'clock to-night, I should say. I Vtfould repeat that the board is anxious not to disturb people unnecessarily, .but. that the reports from upccmTjr make it imperative that precsi'tioii's, against loss of stock and implements should be taken."

CONDITION OF HIGHWAYS POVERTY BAY OUTLETS SOUTHERN AREA AFFECTED j Road communication was severed with the south to-day when the Tiniroto route was blocked on the Gisrjprne side of Tiniroto at what was known as Gray's crossing. That watercourse, _ was impassable and ther^.was,trouble at Te Reinga. The surface, watet; was collecting on the f}at lHixci. between the Waerenga-o-,ahcl the property of Mr. but it. had not crossed thfefojad saVly this, afternoon. _, ; on;.:,jh,e Morere route to Wairoa the.Duco company was able to com-plete-its service run this morning. fhe ear.-left Wairoa. at 9.30 o'clock and. arrived. ,at, Gisbome at midday without trouble, the passengers being transhipped at Faulkner's Reserve, Muriwai. ; No' information could be obtained about the Gisborne-Opotiki highway, Via the Waioeka Valley, other than it was believed t 6 be open, i:Advice was received just prior to going to press that a slip had come down' o v n the Coast road" slightly to ttje north of the Tatapouri Hotel and pat the highway was blocked at th3t point.