Flooding extended from Wairoa to Woodville.

The lake was higher than it had been for a long time.

Disastrous flooding occurred as the result of heavy rain.

Most of low-lying country was a sheet of water.

Clive, Tomoana, Meanee, Havelock, Hastings, Pakipaki, Te Aute, Wairoa, Fernhill all suffered.

In some instances houses were washed out to sea.

12 persons are known to have drowned including 10 occupants of two boats which were capsized while trying to rescue some Clive residents. A man drowned while mustering stock and trying to cross a creek at Chesterhope and another man perished with his house at Waitangi. Total casualties may have reached 15.

Hundreds of families were rendered homeless by the destruction of their homes. Many families lost the whole contents of their houses.

Total damage to the province was estimated at £150,000 ($25,426,000 2009 dollars).

Diptheria broke out in the ravaged area and caused some deaths. Schools were closed while the outbreak lasted.

The flood was declared a national disaster and relief funds were opened in every district. The disaster led to formation of the Hawke's Bay River Board and demonstrated the possibility of reclaiming the swamp area which now supports the suburb of Napier South.

Whole area around Napier and Hasting was flooded. The total area inundated was 60 square miles (155 km^2) out of 100 square miles (259 km^2) forming the Heretaunga Plains.

The loss of stock was very great. Settlers in all directions had heavy losses of sheep, pigs and cattle. On settler lost 700 sheep in one mob and another lost over 1000 sheep. A low estimate of the total sheep number lost was 50,000.

Thousands of acres of pasturage was rendered unfit for use for many months to come.

At Chesterhope alone 8000 sheep and a herd of pedigree poled Anges cattle were lost.

Clive was the worst affected area. Only the tops of houses were visible in some parts of town and some houses were washed out to sea.

The greatest devastation was in Farndon and Clive.

West Clive and Fardon Road flooded to a depth of 6 ft (1.83 m).

Fardon Hotel was flooded to a depth of 18 in (0.46 m) inside and 140 people took refuge inside it.

236 people took refuge in the Clive Hotel.

In Clive and Meeanee, many people took shelter on the roofs of houses and in trees. Many were made homeless.

9 feet (2.74 m) of water covered the main road in Clive.

Residents from Clive fled from their homes to seek refuge on higher ground. The only place they had to shelter was a high wooden bridge. The bridge was cut off by rising water and their position became perilous with the Ngaruroro River in full flood, and hurling its tremendous weight against the wooden piles. Three boats from Waitangi came to their aid. The shingle bank which carried the railway and the main road from Napier to Hastings gave way under the pounding from the river. The dammed waters surged out and carried two of the rescue boats away to be overturned by the pounding waves. Ten men lost their lives. The bridge at Clive withstood the battering and those sheltering on it were finally rescued.

Stock losses were enormous.

Crop losses were enormous.

All residents of Fernhill were compelled to leave their houses, moving to the hotel which was the only place not underwater.

Fernhill Bridge was washed away.

The main streets of Hastings were flooded and water covered the footpaths. Every family from Murdoch to Dufferin Street was flooded out.

All traffic north and south of Hastings was stopped and lines were underwater from both ways.

There was flooding on Havelock Road and was several feet deep in many houses.

The river at Havelock North was a raging torrent.

One cottage was flooded to a depth of 6 ft (1.83 m) but the family was rescued.

A cottage was washed away, passing under Havelock bridge.

There was thousands of pounds worth of stock lost.

Houses were overturned by floodwaters.

The bridge at Mohaka, on the Napier road, was carried away.

A great embankment of the Tutaekuri River at Redcliffs above Taradale burst and water flowed towards the Napier township. This occurred almost simultaneously with the break of the Ngaruroro River at Waitangi.

The flood occurred very rapidly and people were taken by surprise.

Napier was inundated to depths of up to 4 ft (1.22 m). Some houses were flooded to depths of 6 ft (1.83 m).

Napier flooding reached high levels. The main streets were flooded to 2 m water depth. Munroe Street was a sea of water. A boat was rowed from Tennyson Street, right through Clive Square and the little beach and into Carlyle Street.

Many houses were awash inside.

The losses of livestock, fencing, buildings and other possessions were substantial.

Pastures of lands were left feet deep in silt.

Many men spent the night in boats rescuing the women and children from low-lying areas of the district.

The damage to the railway was considered tremendous and communication north and south was at a stand still. All communication by land, rail, sea or telegraph and telephone was cut.

Hundreds of families were rendered homeless.

£40,000 ($6,780,000 2009 dollars) was required to repair the railway lines before traffic could resume to Napier.

Roads were impassable.

Ngaruroro River broke its banks between Roy's Hill and Fernhill, threatening the Hasting township.

Low-lying areas were flooded by Ngaruroro River.

Whares were washed away.

There was enormous damage to crops and fences.

Omahu Bridge and the approaches were washed away

One man was missing at Omahu and three men drowned at Ohiti. Men were also lost from Pakowhai.

The bridge at Pakipaki over the Awanui Stream was washed away.

Between Paki Paki and Poukawa the railway line was washed away.

The township of Tomoana was covered with water. Water was 4 ft (1.22 m) on the bridge.

Sheep and cattle were carted by the thousands to the Tomoana freezing works, where the fat and skins were removed and the carcases burnt in the furnaces.

Tutaekuri River broke its banks and joined with the floodwaters from Ngaruroro River to flood Clive and Napier.

In Waipawa and Takapau area bridges were washed away and roads were destroyed.

Stock losses were enormous.

Crop losses were enormous.

All low portions of town were flooded.

The Waitangi rail bridge repairs cost £20,000-£30,000 ($3,390,000-$5,085,000 2009 dollars).

At Waitangi, the river banked up and the bank gave way. A large washout occurred causing an enormous breach which swept away Broadbent's fellmongery, dwellings and the railway line from Clive station to Waitangi. The railway line between Napier and Hastings suffered considerably and the bridge at Waitangi was greatly damaged.

The damage done to house property and plantations was extensive.

Chimneys, fences and trees were destroyed.

In Patea roads were washed away and the township was isolated.

There was flooding in the Waitotara district.

Waitotara River was in moderate flood and there were slips on the river banks but the damage to the catchment was negligible.

All rivers in the country rose in phenomenally high flood.

The volume of water in the Turakina and Whangaehu rivers was much greater than on the last big flood in 1891. Whangaehu and Turakina Valley were covered with water.

Along the railway line from Wanganui to New Plymouth there was damaged reported.

The river rose 15 ft (4.57 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Bulls.

About 1200 acres (486 ha) were inundated above Bulls and about 13,000 acres (5261 ha) from that point downwards.

At Bulls the traffic bridge was damaged and the replacement cost of a new bridge was £12,000 ($2,034,000 2009 dollars).

Rangitikei River had a discharge of 150,000 cusecs (4247 cumecs) at Bulls with considerable valley storage and overflows upstream. Catchment area was 1397 sq miles (3618 km^2).

The river rose 15 ft (4.57 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Kakariki.

The express from Wellington was unable to proceed passed Makotuku and returned to Palmerston North.

There was a washout of the railway line in the gorge which suspended traffic.

Manawatu River was in high flood.

The river rose to a peak of 32 ft (9.75 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Mangaweka Bridge at 2am on the 17th of April.

There was serious damage to roads due to slips and washouts above Mangaweka.

There was £600 ($101,700 2009 dollars) worth of damage to the Mangaweka Bridge.

The flood could have been as high as 232,000 cusecs (6570 cumecs) at Mangaweka with a catchment area of 1076 sq miles (2787 km^2) after a 32 ft (9.75 m) rise at 2am on the 17th of April. It was estimated at the time by Mr G.T. Murray.

The river rose 28 ft (8.53 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Moawhango wire bridge.

Water was over the road at Moutoa.

The road to Whirokino Ferry was flooded.

It was probably the heaviest flood experienced to that time in the Oroua River.

The bridges on the Fielding-Ashurst road and the railway and the road bridges at Aorangi suffered serious damage.

There was no damage reported immediately around Palmerston North.

The country below Parewanui was inundated by flood waters.

At Pipiriki, Whanganui River rose 30 ft (9.14 m) above normal which was 8 ft (2.44 m) below the level of the flood on in February 1891.

The most serious damage in the district occurred in the Rangitikei catchment when the river rose to a height never previously known. It was the largest flood in Rangitikei in European history and could have a return period of as much as 500 years.

The floodwaters contained large quantities of silt and logs.

The river rose 20 ft 5 in (6.22 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Otara Bridge site.

Many low level flats were washed away and those remaining were covered with a coating of silt up to 2 ft deep.

Not a single bridge was left across the Rangitikei River. A total of six bridges and a ferry was swept away.

Road and bridge damage cost £25,000 ($4,238,000 2009 dollars) excluding the Bulls Bridge and Mangaweka Bridge.

Near river, 100 acres (40 ha) of green forest, including a stand of 300 year old totara trees, was swept away.

The river rose 12 ft 4 in (3.76 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Hautapu Bridge, Taihape.

Turakina River rose to a record flood level with a rise of 18 - 20 ft (5.5-6.1 m) above normal.

No bridges were damaged across the river although slips came down on several roads.

At Mangamahu Road the river level was 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) above normal.

The river rose 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Hautapu Bridge, Turangarere.

The river rose 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m) above the ordinary level of the Rangitikei at Vinegar Hill Bridge.

The cyclinder bridge at Vinegar Hill was washed away at a cost of £8000 ($1,356,000 2009 dollars).

The river rose to within 3 ft (0.91 m) of the 1891 flood level.

The greastest amount of damage was suffered by the railway line, both north and south of Wanganui.

The Whangaehu River was in extremely high flood.

At Mangamahu the river rose 23 ft (7.01 m) above normal which was 10 ft (3.05 m) higher than 1891 flood. At the railway crossing, the river rose 22 ft (6.71 m) which was 4 ft (1.22 m) above the 1891 flood.

Near Mangamahu many low terraces were covered with water. In places the banks were considerably undermined or washed away.

An area of 2000 acres (809 ha) was covered to a depth of up to 7 ft (2.13 m), with probably 500 acres (202 ha) averaging 4 ft (1.22 m) deep. Silt was deposited on this area to depths of 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m).

Some heavy stock losses occurred in lower reaches of the river.

Roads throughout areas suffered considerable damage from slips and wash outs.

Four road and two wire bridges were completely destroyed and four traffic bridges were damaged.

All eastern tributaries of the Whanganui River were in very high flood.

The telegraph was down due to the wires being carried away with the Whangaehu bridge.

In Upper Wangaehu Valley the damage done was enormous.

Bridges at Polson's, McDonald's and Harper's were destroyed.