History: 1877 flood brings devastation - Part 1

BY ROBYN PARKES

The days of 5 and 6 February 1877 remained in the memories of the residents in the country settlements as the most disastrous flood they had experienced since arriving in the district.

The great flood of 1868 had inflicted some serious damage but paled in comparison to the 1877 flood. Three days of heavy rain had caused flooding, enough that many residents were evacuated from their homes by boat and multiple homes were swept away by the flooding rivers and developing slips.

For those who lived in the vicinity of the Motueka River, it was unsafe for them to remain. John Staples, R Staples, Mr Rumbold, Mrs Davison and Mr and Mrs Auty were some of those in the area who were removed from their homes. The Auty’s were being taken away by boat when it capsized in the river, but remarkably they were saved by taking shelter on the top of a tree.

For some time, there was no communication with the outlying country settlements but when word did come through the worst was realised. Many areas had suffered great damage and loss. Heartrending accounts from the various areas slowly filtered in.

One farmer lost the whole of his flock of between 200 and 300 sheep, which, for him meant complete ruin. Another witnessed the complete destruction of his orchard and garden, on which he had spent a large amount of money, time, and labour, this being his livelihood.

In the Upper Motueka Valley, Mr Francis Rolet’s horse drowned in Norris Gully as he was attempting to come down in his dray, and he had great difficulty in saving himself. The whole of his load was washed away and lost, except for a plough.

Haycock’s, Spicer’s, Sutherland’s, and Burrows’ homes were swept away, and other houses shifted off their piles.

Pangatotara was left a desolate wilderness, its chapel and schoolhouse being washed away, and the roads left in ruins, as too were the Brooklyn Valley roads. Rescue attempts at Pangatotora were fraught with danger with one attempt almost ending in disaster as a family was being shifted to safety and some falling into the water, but luckily avoided being drowned.

On the property owned by Mr Holder the lower storey of the house was entirely under water, the rooms filled almost to the ceiling with mud. The land was completely covered with mud, sand, and fallen timber. The Pangatotara cemetery was devastated, graves being washed away, headstones removed, and the ground covered with mud and other debris.  On Mrs Heath’s farm all the low-lying land was rendered worthless, and two horses drowned.

Mr Haycock’s house, stockyard, and outbuildings were carried away, nothing left to show where they once stood.

In all, 23 families living in the Pangatotora sub district lost all or part of the properties, possessions and livelihood.

At Ngatimoti the destruction of property was great and the scene was one of devastation. Mr White was one of the biggest sufferers with almost all of his farm being submerged in water. The roads in the district were destroyed, leaving families isolated and destitute.

The thunder that accompanied the storm was so loud that some recalled that their houses shook.