NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue

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January 1876 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Flooding ( 1876-01-14 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Duration:   8  days - From the 14th till the 21st.
Comments:

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentRain fell from the 14th till the 17th. It rained continuously for seven days up till the 22nd.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River overflowed on the 18th, spreading across the countryside.

Affected LifelineFloodwaters from the Waipaoa River spread along the main road.

CommentOld settlers said it was the worst flood in the last 23 years.

Stock DamageCattle, horses and sheep were strewn over the plains. One farmer lost 3,000 sheep at the height of the flood.

Crop DamageThe grass, seed and grain crops were all lost.

Total DamageSerious damage was done. The loss of crops and livestock in Poverty Bay was set down at £26,000 or £30,000 ($3,500,000-4,000,000 2010 dollars) creating stagnation in the district and general trade depression.

ImpactThe loss of crops and livestock created a general stagnation in business.

Physical CharacteristicThe flats were left covered with 3 ft (91 cm) of mud deposit.

CasualtiesA man, Mr Ross, was drowned on Mr Uren's station while trying to save stock.

Affected LifelineTelegraphic communication was suspended between north and south due to the poles being washed away.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicRainfall for the month of January was 23 in (58.4 cm).

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactA new channel was cut by floodwaters from the Awapuni Lagoon, as broad as the Taruheru.

ImpactThe townspeople suspended business to give assistance to those in the country.

FloodingFlooding at Makaraka
Map Location: -38.649333 177.95759
Comments:

Peak Water LevelAt Makaraka the country was flooded to a depth of 10 ft (3.0 m) to Ormond.

Physical CharacteristicThere was flooding in the township, with water depths between 3-20 ft (91 cm-6.1 m).

Physical CharacteristicThere was 5 ft (1.5 m) of water in Mr Steggall's hotel in Makaraka.

FloodingFlooding at Ormond
Map Location: -38.559177 177.924843
Comments:

CommentThe township was in danger due to the river encroachment.

EvacueesThe settlers had to be moved to Gisborne in boats.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Wairakaia homestead
Map Location: -38.777286 177.908396
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicWairakaia received 3.46 in (8.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.

Physical CharacteristicWairakaia received 4.76 in (12.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.

Hawke's Bay

FloodingFlooding at Hawke's Bay
Comments:

Affected LifelineTelegraphic communication between Wellington and Hawke's Bay was suspended all day on the 21st due to the flood in the south of Napier.

References

Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: Terrible floods in Poverty Bay.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: Daily Southern Cross, 24 January 1876.
Headline: Telegraphic news.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: West Coast Times, 22 January 1876.
Headline: Floods at Poverty Bay, Loss of life and property, page 2, column 5
Waikato Times, 25 January 1876.

January 1876 Gisborne and Hawke's Bay Flooding ( 1876-01-14 )

North Island

Multi HazardMulti Hazard at North Island
Duration:   8  days - From the 14th till the 21st.
Comments:

Gisborne

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne
Comments:

CommentRain fell from the 14th till the 17th. It rained continuously for seven days up till the 22nd.

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

CommentThe Waipaoa River overflowed on the 18th, spreading across the countryside.

Affected LifelineFloodwaters from the Waipaoa River spread along the main road.

CommentOld settlers said it was the worst flood in the last 23 years.

Stock DamageCattle, horses and sheep were strewn over the plains. One farmer lost 3,000 sheep at the height of the flood.

Crop DamageThe grass, seed and grain crops were all lost.

Total DamageSerious damage was done. The loss of crops and livestock in Poverty Bay was set down at £26,000 or £30,000 ($3,500,000-4,000,000 2010 dollars) creating stagnation in the district and general trade depression.

ImpactThe loss of crops and livestock created a general stagnation in business.

Physical CharacteristicThe flats were left covered with 3 ft (91 cm) of mud deposit.

CasualtiesA man, Mr Ross, was drowned on Mr Uren's station while trying to save stock.

Affected LifelineTelegraphic communication was suspended between north and south due to the poles being washed away.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Gisborne city
Map Location: -38.656661 178.017356
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicRainfall for the month of January was 23 in (58.4 cm).

FloodingFlooding
Comments:

ImpactA new channel was cut by floodwaters from the Awapuni Lagoon, as broad as the Taruheru.

ImpactThe townspeople suspended business to give assistance to those in the country.

FloodingFlooding at Makaraka
Map Location: -38.649333 177.95759
Comments:

Peak Water LevelAt Makaraka the country was flooded to a depth of 10 ft (3.0 m) to Ormond.

Physical CharacteristicThere was flooding in the township, with water depths between 3-20 ft (91 cm-6.1 m).

Physical CharacteristicThere was 5 ft (1.5 m) of water in Mr Steggall's hotel in Makaraka.

FloodingFlooding at Ormond
Map Location: -38.559177 177.924843
Comments:

CommentThe township was in danger due to the river encroachment.

EvacueesThe settlers had to be moved to Gisborne in boats.

Heavy RainHeavy Rain at Wairakaia homestead
Map Location: -38.777286 177.908396
Comments:

Physical CharacteristicWairakaia received 3.46 in (8.8 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 18th.

Physical CharacteristicWairakaia received 4.76 in (12.1 cm) of rain in 24 hours on the 19th.

Hawke's Bay

FloodingFlooding at Hawke's Bay
Comments:

Affected LifelineTelegraphic communication between Wellington and Hawke's Bay was suspended all day on the 21st due to the flood in the south of Napier.

References

Cowie, C.A.; Attwood, A.K. (1957). Floods in New Zealand 1920-1953, The Soil Conservation Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand.
Headline: Terrible floods in Poverty Bay.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: Daily Southern Cross, 24 January 1876.
Headline: Telegraphic news.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, Source: West Coast Times, 22 January 1876.
Headline: Floods at Poverty Bay, Loss of life and property, page 2, column 5
Waikato Times, 25 January 1876.