FLOOD WATERS RUSH INTO MAKERUA

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1946, Page 3

FLOOD WATERS RUSH INTO MAKERUA

SERIOUS BREAKS IN EIVER STOPBANKS ' A most serious breach of the right bank of the Tokomaru Stream occurred at 9.30 a.m. yesterday on Mr. P. P. , Walls' property about a mile above the outlet into the Manawatu River. The break is approximately 55 feet across and is pouring a great volume of water on to the Makerua district which is otherwise flood free. It appeared likely to a "Times" observer last evening that the flow would continue for two days with consecjuent flooding of from 3000 to 4000 acres of farniland. Yesterday afternoon the settlers in the area were busy removing stock to higher .ground. This hrought complications for those concerned with milking and particularly so in the case of farmers who were running ewes with young iambs recently born. At a late hour last night the level of the river was at 11 feet. Fortunately no heavy westerly weather has so far been encountered as this would tend to slow down the waters. The breach of the bank prob | ably coincided with the 14 feet peak j level at the Pitzherbert bridge yester- ; day. At 5.30 a.m. yesterday anotheC breach occurred in the Kara Stream bank along the main highway one and a half miles north of Shannon, at exactly the same place as that in which j the bank was breached on October 29, j 1945. The reiilling of the bank was not i completed to the full height of the bank after that disaster. The breach [ is about 20 feet in width and a con- 1 siderable volume of water was pouring j throiigh all day yesterday. It is i thought likely that the flow will con-i tinue most of today to inundate upwards of 1000 acres, between the railway lines and the Tokomaru Stream north of the Makerua Station. Here, again, stock was being removed to: higher levels all afternoon. JNot for many years has such an amount of water been seen in the Makerua. There are varying degrees of flooding extending hack to the margins of the extensive vegetable growing 1 areas of Opiki. There must be an unfortunate loss of production caused by flooding when the cows are just com- . ing into profit together with some loss of lamhs through mis-mothering. The soaking of pastures slows the recovery of spring growth. Fortunately there is no apparent serious loss of stock. j The enginoer to the Manawatu-Oroua | Itiver Board (Mr. II. R. Farquhar) rej ported last evening that Wall's spillj way begau dischargiug flood water at 4 ' a.m. yesterday aiul eontiuued dischargiug for 12 ho'uis", altlfbugh :(t no stage was the ilepth of the water very great. l'rvant;s spillwav did not discharge. Spiing's and the Kara spillways dis- : charged i'reely. There were no breaks in the Aloutoa bankiug system althougli some low spots were overtopped. j In the Buckloy area there was a . break in the Mangaore Stream stopbuuks and nearly 1000 acres were ; under water. The banks were being 1 raised at the time of the ilood. The ■ water was still flow ing through the 1 breach at a terrilic rato late yesterday afternoon. All of the inundation was caused by river water. A further 2000 . acres in the lower Koputaroa area were ' under water due to local rainfall. The most serious break ever experienced in the Makerua area occurred when tne Tokomaru Stream breached a bank near the Okuku Road on the righl hand side, discharging waters into the western Makerua district. Late yes terday 1200 acres were under wate] and there was a possibility of this be ing extended to 2000 to 3000 acres , Even if the river began subsiding im ; mediately it would be many days be fore this water could escape. ■ A further break occurred two mile: above the Shannon bridge, where tlien I was i'our feet of water on the maii road and about (300 acres of i'armlaiid: j were inundated.