OKATO DAMAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 9

OKATO DAMAGE

FACTORY DEVASTATED OXFORD COMPANY’S/ LOSS TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FLOOD BATTERS HOUSE SWIMMING BATHS SUFFER The Oxford dairy factory on the Saunders Road yesterday presented a scene of desolation and isolation that illustrated how devastating can be the forces of Nature when unleashed. Usually the Kaihihi Stream, or actually the Mangatete Stream, a tributary of the Kaihihi, meanders peacefully along, crossing the Saunders Road just below the factory, where the road is spanned by a bridge. The torrential downpour, which was estimated by some settlers at 10 inches and by others at even more, transformed the river into a raging torrent which, sweeping all obstacles out of its course, carried devastation before it. In a few moments it transformed the Oxford dairy factory from one of the most spic and span in Taranaki into a scene of chaOs that must have proved disheartening to the manager, Mr. A. T. Haydn, his staff, the directors and the suppliers. The Mangatete Stream, which some of the settlers think was carrying, in addition to its own flood burden, some of the overflow waters of the Stony River, suddenly burst its banks during the night, a few chains above the factory at a bend near tile intake of the factory water race- Speeding everything before it, carrying huge trees, boulders and shingle in its course, the flood waters rapidly gouged out a track, cutting through the shingle and rocks and going straight across the road, tearing out a channel. It swept past the engine-, room comer of the factory, while part of the flood diverged to the right between the factory and the'first assistant’s house. As the river rose the flood water swept 'through the factory which, however, j withstood the battering well. DOORS BATTERED DOWN. Battering down the doors, finding its Way - through windows and every opening, the flood invaded’ the factory to ft a height of six feet, carrying with it tree trunks, boulders and silt, which in places after the flood subsided covered the floor to a depth of over four feet. The four vats and the presses were tossed by the flood like corks and de-, posited in a heap on top of the shingle deposit Pipes were broken in all directions. Thirty-seven crates of cheese were swept from the packing room. Twelve were picked up yesterday at various points, stranded some distance down the river, whilst advice was received that several other crates had been located and could be recovered. The cheese in the curing room was saved, because when the flood first rushed into the roOm the weight of water closed the door, pressing it so hard that it became watertight, and as a result there was only one foot of water in that room, compared with six feet in the making room. The coal’ shed outside was dejnolished, and several tons of coal were awept s away. Eight tons of cheese salt was demolished. • Meanwhile the original stream also did its share of devastation, as the flood Waters carried away • one of the wing walls of the Saunders Road bridge and then washed out most of the filling, on the factory side approach. As a result the factory now stands in splendid isolation with streams flowing on each side of it. It is unapproachable by vehicular traffic, because on the one side the approach to the, bridge Has been washed away, while on the other side there is now a river -where there was formerly a metalled road. ■ Mr. E. B. Corbett, chairman of the company, went down very early in the morning to arrange for the' Okato Comr pany to take the supply. As soon as ' the Okato suppliers came to the factory and received news of the disaster that had befallen their neighbours an SOS went out and settlers from everywhere to the number of about 100 assembled at the Oxford factory equipped for work. They tackled the arduous job of clearing the interior of the factory of its accumulation of tree trunks, silt, etc., whilst others went up to the breach in an endeavour to divert the stream to its original course. All worked cheerfully under trying condition and made good headway. ’ It is expected, however, that it will be some time before the factory is in working order again, though there is a 10 h.p. motor available to drive the machinery if necessary. Meanwhile the majority of the suppliers will take their milk to the Okato factory and two others will supply the Brooklands factory on. Puniho Road, as the Newall Road factory is isolated from them owing to .the bridge over Dirtyman’s Creek being swept away. i While the men were working at the factory the women of the district assembled to provide luncheon and afternoon tea. ' NIGHT OF TERROR. p Mr. T. N. Watt, the first assistant at I the factory, and his wife had a terrifying experience. They lived with their two young children in the factory assistant’s cottage built at the rear of the factory. Ordinarily the river flowed at the back well away from the house. They wfere awakened at 1.45 a.m. by the roar of the river and boulders and trees crashing down. They found six inches of water running in at the back door and they heard the small footbridge in front of the house carried away a little later. So they realised that they could not get out. They put as mucl. of their belongings as they could on tables and beds. The .house shook as. the river crashed trees and boulders against it. The force of the flood removed some of the piles from under the comer of the front sitting-room, which then overhung the water. , At one time Mrs. Watt by leaning out of the kitchen window was able to feel* the water. With the arrival of daylight ; the scene was an awesome one, but the house still.held and Mr..-Watt and his wife and family remained there until about 10.30 a.m., when Mr. Watt was able to wade across and take his wife arid family to shelter at a neighbour’s, Mrs. W. Hughes’. It was a terrifying' that Mrs. Watt would not like to j Mb through again. They lost all their i poultry as well as a goat. Mrs. W. Hughes, who resides near the river, described the scene at 6 a.m. as awe-inspiring. I- river for chains wide was a raging torrent presenting a magnificent spectacle as it swept down trees and boulders. About an hour later it rose suddenly and became a chocolate colour, and it was then that it was thought the Stony River had overflowed into it. However, it has not yet been ascertained whether the rivers did or did not join forces for a time. Overflow from the Mangatete Stream J

gouged Out some chains of Saunders Road below the bridge before it found its way across a paddock. It was reported that the bridge leading to Mr. O’Sullivan’s, recently erected by the settlers in conjunction with the county council, had been swept away, but fortunately that was not confirmed. 'An approach to the Mangatete bridge on the Okahu. Road was swept away, however. The Kaihihi Stream hrs also done considerable damage lower down. About half a mile above the Okato Domain it has changed its course, diverging to the left and sweeping down through an old course. The full force of water is now rushing through the Okato baths at the Domain, where it has made itself a track through the bush. So far the baths are standing up .veil to. the strain, though one of the terraces recently erected by the baths committee has been carried away. The stream also carried away the swing bridge over it- ordinary course. It is considered that the river will retain its new course unless measures are taken to divert it to its old bed again. The Kaihihi Stream rushed through the Okato main factpry but beyond causing inconvenience and silting up the race did no damage. Mr. L. H. Andrews, however, is a heavy loser. He had, at considerable expense, cleared a paddock of stones op the opposite side of the river and had ploughed it. The stream swept over the paddock, converting it into a boulder bed which will be beyond repair. Near the main road bridge the flood washed out for itself a fall of about six feet and had just started to erode the road at the side of the concrete abutment of the bridge, but fortunately the strain stood. Mr. Andrews lost one milk-can and would have lost anothe:, but his son, Mr. A. H. Andrew-, the All Black footballer, swam out and rescued it. Settlers higher up the Kaihihi River lin the Dover Road also suffered from the cloudburst. A dam on Messrs. Cocksedge and Hickford’s property was washed away, together with a ram, piping, etc., and numerous fences. Mr. L. Julian lost his electric pump and other articles. Among other bridges that are kno.wn to have gone are those spanning Dirty- ' man’s Creek on Newall Road and one ion Okahu Road. As a result it is stated ' that several settlers in the Tumahu district are isolated from the factories, and their outlets to either the Kahui, Newall, Brooklands or Oxford factories are blocked. Mr. Brbich, Okahu Road, had a terrifying experience. He was trying to open an overflow gate on a dam on his property in order to release the pressure when the dam suddenly burst. The force of suddenly released water dashed him against the rocks at the side with such force that he severely bruised his back and had difficulty in getting clear. —