CLOUDBURST ON RANGES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1929, Page 11

CLOUDBURST ON RANGES

ONE MAN DROWNED IN FLOOD MINER TRAPPED IN HIS HOT. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Te Arolia, Nov. 11. Heavy rain fell on the Coromandel Ranges on Saturday evening and the mountain streams rose rapidly. - R- Taylor, a drover, had a particularly trying experience. Accompanied by a .youth, Oliver Jackson, he ascended by Thompson’s track to the top of the 2000 feet range to drive 100 cattle on the way from Whakatane to Te Aroha. On the way down the first batch of animals safely forded the swollen creek, at a point a few feet above a steep waterfall. Suddenly there was a terrific clap of thun-; der and immediately after blinding hail. The storm was followed by heavy rain and, in a few minutes, the creek had risen to an alarming height. Seven head of cattle were washed over the waterfall, but the stronger animals forded the creek safely at a higher point. The horses the men were riding refused to enter the stream, but a successful crossing was made a mile higher up by Taylor, who returned to the ford, and made a lifeline of bridles and dog chains by means of which his mate, also the dogs and horses, were assisted across lower down. Two head of cattle were lost crossing a bridge three feet under water. Hundreds of 'sheep were seen by' the settlers floating down the creek, which had been turned into a raging torrent. Mr. T. Ball, an eye-witness, described the flood in the creek at Maratoto as terrifying. The water rose at such an alarming rate that he and ■ others were unable to do anything to save the contents of the huts, which were carried away.' They also had no time to warn Mr. Percival Ernest Brunton, a married man, aged 30 years, who was employed at the Ohiriemuri mines. He was asleep in one of the huts, and was swept away in the debris.

Huge trees and boulders, some weighing several tons, were b.eing hurled down the stream by the rushing waters. Most of the men lost the whole of their belongings. One man was'a little more fortunate than the others, recovering, some ef his clothes a quarter of a mile down stream, and in the pocket of his clothes he found his wages. MOTOR-CARS SUBMERGED. Several motor-cars parked on the section near the creek were submerged, one being turned over and badly' damaged. A search party, headed by Constable J. McClinchy,. made a search for the body of Mr. Brunton this morning. It was found washed up on the side of the creek about a-half miles below the site where the huts had. stood. Mr. Brunton’s wife resides at Waihi, and he intended leaving Maratoto at' 4 p.m. yesterday to go to his home for the week-end. The body has been brought to Paeroa, and an inquest will be opened to-morrow. All communication by road to Maratoto was cut off yesterday. Mr. J. Noble, manager of the Ohinemuri Mines at Maratoto, stated in the course of a telephone message, that they had had a terrible experience, but practically no damage had been done to the company’s works, as they are situated well away from the danger point. Practically all the crossings and groins in the creek have been carried away and the manager has men working 1 clearing away the blockage caused by logs in an endeavour to save the roadways. An eye-witness stated that the rise in the creek was remarkable, and that huge logs and an immense amount of timber were being hurled down the creek. A stock of several hundred posts, the property of Mr. W- H. Alley, was gathered up by the rush of water and the creek at Hikuaiai, five miles from the hills, is filled with posts and bush debris. The Hikutaia and Komata Rivers have now subsided almost to their normal level, but the banks and roadways adjacent to the streams bear full witness to the severity of the flood. The Maratoto to Hikutaia Road has suffered extensive damage, and in several places has been completely washed away. Slips have occurred along the road for a distance of approximately four miles. The work of reinstating the road was commenced this morning.