NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES
THE GREAT STORM
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 01/02 FEBRUARY 1936
With practically no warning a steady downpour of rain on Saturday afternoon developed suddenly on the Saturday night into the worst storm within living memory. To the rain was added wind of hurricane force from the south and south-east, culminating in what was practically a country-wide storm between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday. The havoc wrought was extensive but from newspaper reports of the day some idea of the extent of the damage can be seen.
Telegraph and telephone lines were down in thousands all over the country. A number of roads were completely blocked to traffic, and the many slips put railways out of action.
Damage was reported all over the North Island and the eventual death toll was put at eleven. They were:
| BOTTERILL | Walter Frederick | 23 | Of Balmoral, Auckland | Drowned in a Government drainage canal near Kaitaia while salvaging effects from a house which collapsed |
| GROVES | Eric Wallace | 16 | Son of Mr and Mrs H G Groves of Tinui, Masterton | Was struck on head by a branch while clearing a tree damaged in the storm |
| McLEOD | Angus | 18 | New Plymouth. Son of Mr W F McLeod. | Missing from New Plymouth on launch Mokau. Body never found. Memorial Te Henui Cemetery |
| McLEOD | W F or W G [William Sutherland] | 55 | Pioneer Road, Moturoa, New Plymouth | Missing from New Plymouth on launch Mokau. Body never found. Memorial Te Henui Cemetery |
| MIKOZ | Francis Alexander | 58 | Cook. Married of 3 Belwood Avenue, Auckland. | Drowned when the Mangatangi Stream, 12 miles from Pokeno overflowed its banks |
| MILLER | Benjamin Arthur | 72 | Palmerston North | Was struck on head by a piece of iron from a rood he was attempting to repair |
| MONTGOMERY | W A [William Alfred Joseph Souter] | [53] | Married. Baker of Ngatea | Presumed drowned in the Piako River near the turning point on Hopai Road. Body never found |
| SMITH | William George | 54 | Mill worker. Of 5 Hardinge Street, Freeman's Bay, Auckland | Drowned when the Mangatangi Stream, 12 miles from Pokeno overflowed its banks |
| WEBSTER | George Frederick | 78 | Caretaker, Zeehan Mine, Waiomo near Thames | Drowned in the Puhoi Stream when hut he was sleeping in was washed away |
| WILSON | James Albert | 15 | Son of Mr and Mrs James Wilson of Waingawa | Died of exposure while deer stalking in the Tararua Ranges |
| WOOD | Ralph Reginald Frederick | 29 | Married man of Palmerston North | Died of exposure while deer stalking in the Tararua Ranges near Levin |
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES