UNDER WATER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 867, 13 July 1910, Page 6

UNDER WATER.

MANAWATU'S SUBMERGED ACRES, Although spring, during which season New Zealand is specially devoted to the reception and the absorption of rainfall, has not yet appeared' in the round of the seasons, some portions of the Manawatu have already been liberally bathed in the natural element. Between Koputaroa and Tokomaru there, are scores of acres of country under .vator. The laud thereabouts is flat and swampy, and grows mostly rushes and raupo. There are chains of flaxmill tram-lino completely submerged, and miles of line look unworkable on account of the boggy state of the tracks. Some of the roadside fences are onlj showing about a foot above the water. Dozens of acres of flax-cuttiii« land are holding great quantities of water. One small dwelling near the railway line, standing, as it were, knee deep in the lake, is suggestive of an inland bathing shed. The roads in places are in a pretty bad state. The district is visited annually by these mild floods, and tha losses that attend them come as "reguhi .y as the spring.

.Later on this year, unless history fails to repeat itself, the roads will be under water, the sheep will be driven, out of the paddocks, stock will bo drowned, fences will be seriously damaged, and there will probably be it wash-out on the railway line. _ It seems questionable whether it is right for whoever is in authority to look,on and see these things happen every year.