Heavy Rainfall In Hawke's Bay Area

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1949, Page 5

Heavy Rainfall In Hawke's Bay Area

*. Press Asc^iation)

(Per

HASTINGS, August 8, Serious flooding on tlie Heretaunga Plains was feared today following uearlv three davs of heavy rain but tonight the situation appeared easier. However, rain is still falling heavily tonight in the back country although it let up 'there slightlv in the afternoon and had ' ceased altogether in areas nearer the ! coast'. Surface flooding has been wide 1 spread and there have been stock losse'' ' but these are not believed heavy. | The rnost sprious flooding is in the I Pakowhai district where water is up to the fence tops. Severa-1 houses were snr 'rounded by flood waters caused by the closing of the flood gates and steps have been taken to evacuate several marooned families. At darkness tonight, the Ngaruroro . River was at its peak, S feet 6 inch.es ' above normal. ' The Tukituki River was up 8 feet and the Tutaekuri River was running con stant between 7 feet and 7 feet 6 in. i With high tide at 5 o 'clock this evenj ing, it was considered the maximum danger would* oceur then due to th». banking up of the river waters. The mouths of the rivers are in good con I dition and water was banking up only slightly between 4 and 6 o'clock. The j Tutaekuri River has been flowiug our, of the Ngaruroro River mouth sinct 19.40 and tonight operations were in "hand to open the Tutaekuri moutt , again to rclieve the pressure on the, j Ngaruroro. All rivers tonight, although very full, were running comfortably within their banks. Since the rain began on Saturday, re cordings have varied from more than 3 inches in Hastings to about 8 inchein the bac.k country. The land is satur ated and there has been a heavy run r off into the waterways which have beei * additionallv burdened by melting sno\. due to the miklness of the weather Farmers had ample warning of the floo' danger and most stock was moved t higher levels. There was some loss o lambs and ewes~from the wet cond tionsv Main road communications are ua affected seriously by the rain. The N-a pier-Wairoa road, the most likelv to l?i affected by a period of heavv rain, ha> escaped with only a few minor slips the main rainfall area being farther tc (the sotitlt. S.oipe lp.a?k i;p.ad are closed by slips and flood waters.'-