FLOOD DAMAGE COSTS TARANAKI THOUSANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 7

FLOOD DAMAGE COSTS TARANAKI THOUSANDS

NEW PLYMOUTH SHOPPING CENTRE SWEPT ROAD AND RAIL SERVICES INTERRUPTED RAINSTORMS of greater violence than any within living memory swept Taranaki in the early hours of yesterday morning. Rivers, swollen to unprecedented heights, swept away bridges and culverts, tore dp roads, flooded Shops and factories, and disorganised means of communication. The Huatoki and Mangaotuku streams, unable to find outlet for the volume of their floodwaters, tore a trail of devastation through the main shopping area of New Plymouth, causing damage to merchants stocks conservatively estimated at £17,000. Some buildings have sunk on their foundations, key bridges in the system of road and rail communication have been so seriously damaged that their use is risky until repairs are made. No trains were run to or from New Plymouth yester ay, and fidhiiniinication with southern towns was possible only via Opunake until late last night, when cars came through for the first tithe in 16 hours. Washouts have occurred in cuttings and culverts on practically every arterial road in the province. • • It is yet impossible to ascertain the total amount of damage done to public or private property, but it is doubtful that -the expenditure of £30,00() would cover the work of replacing ruined merchandise, stocks of factories and personal effects and of repairing broken or strained bridges, scoured roads and washed-out culverts let alone strengthening or reconstructing damaged buildings in the New Plymouth district alone. A remarkable feature of the occurrence is that neither death nor serious injury has been reported as a direct result, although several remarkable escapes are reported. . . _ Floodwaters raged all yesterday morning in a section of New Plymouth streets, while storekeepers worked desperately to salve what remained of the contents of their shops and offices in basement and ground floors. Sections of an extensive stretch of footpath broke up and fell into the underground culverts which carry the Huatoki stream beneath the town. Blinded by the storm, a motorist drove a sedan car into a gap left by a bridge that had been carried away by the floodwaters, but both he and his passenger escaped with shock. . . _ • Waitata is Without Electric light or water, and so serious is the damage to the waterworks that it is impiobable the supply will be resumed for somfe days. The Waitara River bridge on the main north road has subsided, and fears are entertained for its safety. . „ ~, , , , Road traffic on the direct route from New Plymouth to Wellington via Hawera was held up yesterday by numerous washouts and because the Tangahoe bridge was swept away. A temporary bridge has been constructed, and .by a detour motors W how ifaVel south Via HiiWa With difficulty. The north road is passable by detours, provided one risks the doubtful Waitara bridge and sdoufittg of the road elsewhere. The south coast road via OpUhake is clear. It is not yet known when railway traffic will.be resumed. All yesterday Government and local government employees and officials worked at desperate pressure to restore normal services. . t a n ■■ The fain ceased throughout the district With intermittent showers yesterday, and the smaller rivers have fallen almost to normal with the amazing rapidity with which they rose.