Onga Stream Breaks Its Banks And Flood Water Flows Into Hunterville

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 4

Onga Stream Breaks Its Banks And Flood Water Flows Into Hunterville

(0.C.) Hunterville, June 29. Heavy rain which fell last night caused one of the largest floods in years in the Hunterville district. The flood waters rose quickly and the areas around Poukiore were swiftly inundated, the Orewa Stream being unable to cope with the heavy flow of water. In Hunterville the Onga Stream broke its banks this morning and flowed into Hunterville township. The Bank of New Zealand was completely surrounded. The water rose to such a height that it entered a tearooms, and furniture and fittings had to be remove a to safety. In a bakehouse the water rose to a depth of 18 inches. Two motor garages were like lakes inside and the flood waters rushed through one of these premises like a small torrent.

From Murumuru Road to the township a large sheet of water covered the roadway and adjoining properties. Many houses were surrounded and several families had to evacuate tffeir homes. No reports of damage to stock have yet been received, many farmers having shifted their stock to higher levels before the full flow of the flood occurred. The rain abated as quickly as it started, and by 2 p.m. today the water had started to recede and the process of cleaning up premises in the town had started. On the road between Hunterville and Rata cars experienced difficulty in traversing portions of the road which were covered with water, but as it subsided today travelling cc editions became normal. The rain commenced to fall in the Hunterville district shortly after 7 o’clock last night and continued steadily until about 11 a.m. today, when the sky cleared and spring conditions with warm sunshine prevailed for the remainder of the day. '