SITUATION IN MANAWATU IMPROVES

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 6

SITUATION IN MANAWATU IMPROVES

BUCKLEY BREAK SHOULD BE CLOSED TODAY The general flood situation in the Manawatu . area has lirmoved considerably with the subsiding of the river levels, the most severely affected parts being at Buckley and in the Taonui basin. At a late hour last night the chief engineer to the Manawatu Catchment Board, Mr. P. G. Evans, re ported that the water at the break m the Buckley hank had begun to flow back into the Mangaore Stream and it was hoped to hegin work on the break some time today. It had not yet been possiDie to ettect any repairs to the

railway line where it was flooded m this area but it was hoped that this, also, could he begun today. The flooding of the Taonui basin was dill very heavy and it was expected to be some days in subsiding, he said Although the weather looked far from proniising last night it was hoped the rain would hold off until the breaehes had been closed. The flooding had eaused iess damagt than had been expected, .and the dis triet could count itself lucky, he con tinued. The levels of the river hau been higher than on former occasiomwhen more damage was done. He attributed this to lack of westerly winds, low lides and the Whirokino cut. The cut had had a eonsiderable effeci on the levels of the water and had aeted well. The Manawatu A.A. stated last night that the Foxton road to Wellington was still closed. There were still tliree ieet of water across the road in this area and little hope was held out of an early opening of the route. The Shannon route to Levin could be negotiatcd but care should be taken. There were still nine inches of water on the road north of Shannon but it was expected that this would have subsided some time this morning. Workmen were busv yesterdav at the road subsidence in the Manawatu Gorge, near the Ballance Bridge. Il was loarned that the gap will have to l)e bridged temporarily. Buses and lorries with high loads had to use extreme c-are goiug past the break on the narrow portion of the road remain ing, because of the overhanging cliff of solid rock. The clearance in many cases was of the narrowest of margins The road for several chains at this spot sliows signs of subsiding, cracks having appeared in the bitumen. From the protection fence there is a shec drop of 30 to 40 feet to what was once the river course. The road, naturally... eannot be moved outwards nor can i!

be moved inwards because of the railway line and tujunels. In the end ii may mean a bridge or ramp of con siderable dimensions. .Tust inside the Gorge from the Wood ville end a niajor slip has occurred below the road where there was om of a smaller nature last year. A nubsidence in the highway i's also threatened at this spot.