THE WINTER RIGOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 6

THE WINTER RIGOUR.

AT PAHIATUA. (By Telegraph.—Presj Association.) Pahiatua, July 24. There was a light fall of snow at Pahiatua and around tlie surrounding country yesterday afternoon—tho third this winter. Pongaroa reports heavy rains and rivers in high flood, and that it is still raining. For the second lime in eight days (telegraphs our travelling .representative), tlio Wairarapa. from Pahiatua to hcatlierston and Martinborough, is Hood swept with rushing streams and rivers, which liavo burst over their banks and inundated miles of country. Pain has been steadily falling for over thirty-six hours on an already sodden earth, and, if tho downpour continues, the prospects ir.ay be serious indeed. Portions of tho towns of Carterton and Greytown aro under water; Dalefield has flgttiu boen transformed into a small lake; tho Kuamah'unga is over tho road between Feathcrston and Martinborough; Kahautara is preparing for another flood. Last week three rivers were lost in tho South AVairarapa through tho inundation 'caused by streams rising to raging torrents with a rapidity never experienced for many years by even tlio oldest inhabitants'of the district.

It is hardly possible that thero will be, this time, a repetition of the fatalities chronicled, b.ut it is easy to understand that there is a feeling of great uneasiness in the minds of those farmers whose lands are threatened by the (lood waters. The mail coach driver, betweon Featherston and Martinborough, anticipates that ho will have trouble to-night in negotiating tho road which the Buauiahunga River is roaming to a considerable degree, but the deptli of the Hoods will defend 'largely'on'tho position of (lie lako which, however, is at present on tho rise. In Carterton the upper portion of High Street, and also Kent and Rhodes and Pembroke Streets, are, flooded, whileseve-' rnl residences in the various localities are quite surrounded with water, and the occupants are temporarily prisoners. A similar state of things exists at. the northern end of Greytown—between Featherston and AVoadside—where there was a washout last week —tho train has to proceed very gingerly over the damaged portions of the railway line, and the torrents, which are bursting over from the flooded, paddocks, aro still continuing their gouging-out process. South of 1-Va-therston may be seen a fiije concrete bridge on the road to, Pigeon Bush rendered untrafficable, the metalled npDraach being scooped out and distributed over the paddocks with all sorts and sizes of wood and •timber.

Dalefield is a. .series of late and streams which, in some' nlaees, have flooded over tlio roads and'almost to Hie ujds of the fence?.: The flood near the' factory is very pronounced. . Here and there may be seen ffirm houses cjuito surrounded with . water, while the imprisoned occupants wrvo cheerful hands to passengers as the train goes br. Matarawa .is in, -almost as bad aptsition, a nil'the'.flood atKuripuni .gives n'p idea.of what it must be in some of the streets of Masterton. Kopuaranga, through the. flpoding.of the KonuarangW fjiream, is a sea which, at midda.v yesterday, was in parts running over the railway lino. Further up there is a flood at Mangamahoe. anil there is a big area under water between Eketahuna •and Mangamaire. The damage all round will be espeoiallv severe on the local bodies, bridges pnd roads suffering severely. Tt is not considered likely that there will be any great loss of stock, although-■'they,are feeling the severity : of the. storm, but farmers are sure to experience considerable lo.'s through' the miles-of fencing which' will be washed dowii. The weather generally is bitterly cold, and snow has fallen cii various low-lying hills in the Wairirapa.

DISTRICT REPORTS. , WAlßar;\pa and elsewhere. DEEP SNOW COAT. (By. Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) Palmerston, July 21. Very heavy rain'fell all last night, and for a greator portion of this morning, -when it cleared, and the afternoon has been comparatively fine. The hills to the east of Palmerston, and up the Pohangina, are covored with a .deep coating of snow, and, tip the valley, snow fell thickly on the flats. It is many years since the whole district was covered to such an extent with water. Tho Manawatu Gorge Road has again been blocked with a slip, but the railway line on the other side of tho Gorge is clear, and trains are running up to time. The atmosphere is very cold.

IIASTERTON AND VICINITY. \(Bj Telegraph—Special Correspondent.! Masterton, July .24. The crock to the west of Masterton overflowed this afternoon, and inundated a portion of the town. Residents of Cole street were unable to enter or leave their houses owing to the flood-waters. I?esidonts in several parts of the town were surrounded by water, and a number of shops in Lower Queen Street had to be closed, owing to being invaded by wafer. Rain ceased this evening, however, and .tho flood subsided. The Waugaehu Road has beeu_ blocked by a series of slips aE Maiiriceville. Fifteen inches of rain has already been recorded this month, which is easily a record. Snow fell on the surrounding hills last night, and stock will suffer a good deal. AT KIJIBOLTON. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) ' Feilding, July 21. Last night Kimbolton experienced the heaviest fall of snow known there for many years. The snow commenced to fall at 5 o'clock, and continued all night. It. was accompanied by a good deal of wind; otherwise it would have been much more severe. This morning the snow lay at a depth of six inches in the exposed places," while, in sheltered , corners, the depth was eight and nine inehesi Snow--balling was in vogue in the street with tigoiir ' during tho day. This morning the ,si\ow lino reached down the Kimbolton Road as far as the reservoir, and a very light fall was registered in Feilding at 7.30 a.m.