NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
May 1904 Manawatu-Wanganui and West Coast Flooding ( 1904-05-22 )
Heavy rain caused extensive flooding and damage in the Wanganui area. In Brunner on the West Coast, heavy rain caused landslides, one of which killed seven children and one man.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Duration: 5 days - From the 22nd to the 26th of May.
Multi Hazard
at
Wanganui
A 992hPa low moved southeastwards onto South Island, and another (985hPa) followed it. There was a prolonged period of northwesterlies which affected the Whanganui River headwaters. Fronts were not analysed in those days, but possible frontal analysis suggests that a front remained stationary over or near area for three days.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain and melting of snow caused flooding of the river and surrounding areas.
Wanganui recorded 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of 15 years).
Flooding
Whanganui River reached its highest flood to that time.
At its peak, the Whanganui River covered Taupo Quay and up The Avenue.
Several punts and ferries lost and a 2 two-storey houses at Taylorville was washed away.
East Town was extensively flooded.
Whanganui River peaked 219,000 cusecs (6201 cumecs) and flowed at a velocity of 11 knots (20.4 km/hr).
There were considerable stock losses.
The river was 3 ft (0.91 m) higher than it had been during the flood of February 1891 and was possibly bigger than the flood of 1940, although opinions differ.
Over 4 ft (1.22 m) of water coursed through the buildings on Taupo Quay.
At Taylorville, the riverbank became so eroded houses and business fell into the current and were swept away.
River was running at a terrific height, carrying huge trees and large quantities of drift wood.
The cellar of Siddells Railway Hotel was full of water. Manson's store had over 4 in of water on the floor. McCarthy's Hotel had water flowing in it.
Roads were greatly damaged by the recent floods.
Many setters were completely cut off from supplies.
Flooding
at
Whangaehu River
Whangaehu River was in very high flood. It had swollen to two miles wide (3.2 km).
The hotel had 2 ft (0.61 m) of water inside.
A large number of settlers were flooded out.
Flooding
at
Hunterville
The Porewa Stream overflowed its banks and a number of people were flooded out.
Communication was practically suspended.
Traffic was suspended.
The Hunterville railway line was underwater in several places.
Flooding
at
Makirikiri
The ferry was washed away, making the south river bank impassable.
The Makirikiri area was cut off.
Flooding
at
Upokongaro
A ferry was carried away.
Flooding
at
Okoia
There was submergence of the railway at Okoia and the train was stopped.
Flooding
at
Mangawhero River
Mangawhero River was in high flood.
Three bridges were washed out.
West Coast
Landslide
at
Brunner
Heavy rain resulted in a landslide occurring in Brunner on the 25th, with an estimated 200 yards of earth, trees and rocks in the slip.
A portion of the loose material on the hill-side was carried away by the recent heavy rains, striking in its course a cottage and cutting a cornor out of the Terminus Hotel.
Eight people were killed by the landslide. Seven children that were in a cottage were killed. This was a 13 year old girl, 12 year old girl, 10 year old girl, 8 year old boy, 5 year old boy, 4 year old girl and an 18 month old girl. A 60 year old man in the hotel was also killed.
The mass slipped bodily down 20 or 30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) and there was a wreck of broken houses, mud, stones, boulders, trees and water.
Brunner Companys stables was damaged.
The bridge at Wallsend was undermined.
The road and railway bridge was carried away.
A chemists shop at Wallsend was carried bodily across the road and landed in a gully.
Flooding
at
Greymouth
Rainfall was considerable in Greymouth and caused floods throughout the district resulting in much damage.
Grey River was running bank high.
There was damage to railway lines, bridges and dredges.
Landslide
A slip coming down on the passing train from Otira. One man was seriously injured.
A slip occurred on the Reefton railway line.
References
- Benn, J.L. (2005). Landslide events on the West Coast, South Island, 1867-2002. New Zealand Geographer (2005) 61, 3-13.
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sooty/brunnerlandslide1904.html
- Hutchins, Graham. (2006). High Water: Floods in New Zealand.
- New Zealand Disasters and Tragedies:
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Wanganui Floods.
- Taranaki Herald, 31 May 1904.
- Headline: Terrible Disaster, A house carried away bodily.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1904.
- Headline: Great Floods in Wanganui.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 26 May 1904.
- Headline: Floods on the West Coast.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1904.
- Headline: Great Floods in the Wanganui District.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 26 May 1904.
May 1904 Manawatu-Wanganui and West Coast Flooding ( 1904-05-22 )
Heavy rain caused extensive flooding and damage in the Wanganui area. In Brunner on the West Coast, heavy rain caused landslides, one of which killed seven children and one man.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Duration: 5 days - From the 22nd to the 26th of May.
Multi Hazard
at
Wanganui
A 992hPa low moved southeastwards onto South Island, and another (985hPa) followed it. There was a prolonged period of northwesterlies which affected the Whanganui River headwaters. Fronts were not analysed in those days, but possible frontal analysis suggests that a front remained stationary over or near area for three days.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain and melting of snow caused flooding of the river and surrounding areas.
Wanganui recorded 4 in (10.16 cm) of rain in three days (which has a return period of 15 years).
Flooding
Whanganui River reached its highest flood to that time.
At its peak, the Whanganui River covered Taupo Quay and up The Avenue.
Several punts and ferries lost and a 2 two-storey houses at Taylorville was washed away.
East Town was extensively flooded.
Whanganui River peaked 219,000 cusecs (6201 cumecs) and flowed at a velocity of 11 knots (20.4 km/hr).
There were considerable stock losses.
The river was 3 ft (0.91 m) higher than it had been during the flood of February 1891 and was possibly bigger than the flood of 1940, although opinions differ.
Over 4 ft (1.22 m) of water coursed through the buildings on Taupo Quay.
At Taylorville, the riverbank became so eroded houses and business fell into the current and were swept away.
River was running at a terrific height, carrying huge trees and large quantities of drift wood.
The cellar of Siddells Railway Hotel was full of water. Manson's store had over 4 in of water on the floor. McCarthy's Hotel had water flowing in it.
Roads were greatly damaged by the recent floods.
Many setters were completely cut off from supplies.
Flooding
at
Whangaehu River
Whangaehu River was in very high flood. It had swollen to two miles wide (3.2 km).
The hotel had 2 ft (0.61 m) of water inside.
A large number of settlers were flooded out.
Flooding
at
Hunterville
The Porewa Stream overflowed its banks and a number of people were flooded out.
Communication was practically suspended.
Traffic was suspended.
The Hunterville railway line was underwater in several places.
Flooding
at
Makirikiri
The ferry was washed away, making the south river bank impassable.
The Makirikiri area was cut off.
Flooding
at
Upokongaro
A ferry was carried away.
Flooding
at
Okoia
There was submergence of the railway at Okoia and the train was stopped.
Flooding
at
Mangawhero River
Mangawhero River was in high flood.
Three bridges were washed out.
West Coast
Landslide
at
Brunner
Heavy rain resulted in a landslide occurring in Brunner on the 25th, with an estimated 200 yards of earth, trees and rocks in the slip.
A portion of the loose material on the hill-side was carried away by the recent heavy rains, striking in its course a cottage and cutting a cornor out of the Terminus Hotel.
Eight people were killed by the landslide. Seven children that were in a cottage were killed. This was a 13 year old girl, 12 year old girl, 10 year old girl, 8 year old boy, 5 year old boy, 4 year old girl and an 18 month old girl. A 60 year old man in the hotel was also killed.
The mass slipped bodily down 20 or 30 ft (6.1-9.1 m) and there was a wreck of broken houses, mud, stones, boulders, trees and water.
Brunner Companys stables was damaged.
The bridge at Wallsend was undermined.
The road and railway bridge was carried away.
A chemists shop at Wallsend was carried bodily across the road and landed in a gully.
Flooding
at
Greymouth
Rainfall was considerable in Greymouth and caused floods throughout the district resulting in much damage.
Grey River was running bank high.
There was damage to railway lines, bridges and dredges.
Landslide
A slip coming down on the passing train from Otira. One man was seriously injured.
A slip occurred on the Reefton railway line.
References
- Benn, J.L. (2005). Landslide events on the West Coast, South Island, 1867-2002. New Zealand Geographer (2005) 61, 3-13.
- Cowie, C.A; Attwood, A.K.(1957) FLOODS in NEW ZEALAND 1920 -53, The Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, Wellington, New Zealand 239p.
- http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sooty/brunnerlandslide1904.html
- Hutchins, Graham. (2006). High Water: Floods in New Zealand.
- New Zealand Disasters and Tragedies:
- NZ Met Service. (2008). Meteorology of Extreme Rainfalls in New Zealand (Mark Pascoe, Ed.).
- Headline: Wanganui Floods.
- Taranaki Herald, 31 May 1904.
- Headline: Terrible Disaster, A house carried away bodily.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 25 May 1904.
- Headline: Great Floods in Wanganui.
- The Greymouth Evening Star, 26 May 1904.
- Headline: Floods on the West Coast.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1904.
- Headline: Great Floods in the Wanganui District.
- The Wanganui Chronicle, 26 May 1904.