Landslide

With an ominous roar at about 7.30 in the morning a whole hillside collapsed into bed of the Waimata River, entirely blocking the upper reaches of the river.

Thus, in a matter of seconds, nature had endangered Mr R. A. (Tiny) White's Waimiro Station and neighbouring properties with serious flooding.

When "Photo News" arrived in the early afternoon, the river had already backed up to some 25 feet above normal level, while the lower river bed was virtually dry.

The hillside had been suspect for some years, but there was little that could be done to save it.

Clearing the slip was a major operation.

Within a very short time the slip area was invaded by numbers of voluntary workers and contractors, working furiously to clear a temporary relief channel to act as a carry-off for the water that was fast banking up behind the slip.

While ex All-Black Richard White cleared off the trees with a power saw (above), tractors and bulldozers towed away the trunks and moved off excess earth.