10
Waipaoa Flood
Another heavy flood which threatened to produce a general inundation of farm land near Gisborne came down the Waipaoa River on April 20, but the threat passed with only a few inches of freeboard to spare. There were small overflows at Matawhero, in the Pahutahi area, and at Waerenga-a-Hika. Above, a general view of the Matawhero bridge at the flood's peak.
A small boy inspects earth-moving machinery parked near the bridge, and used on the new "cut" which will shorten the river's course.
A little room remained for logs to pass under the bridge. Enormous quantities of debris came donw the river during the flood.
11
Bridge Job
No Hold-Up
Above, workmen are kept busy with long trident pole removing debris from bridge piles at flood's peak. Flood brought out large number of sightseers.
Plane for Wellington leaves Darton Field in rainstorm as peak of flood passes down Waipaoa one-and-a-half miles away. Improved drainage prevented flooding at airport.