HEAVY FLOODS

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 100, 14 February 1891, Page 2

HEAVY FLOODS

The rain which fell dufmg' thirty-six hours on Thursday and Friday was the heaviest experienced in .this part of the colony for many years. It will be seen, in a letter from Mr Goodbeliere in another column, that the registered rainfell for twenty-four hours reached the enormous quantity of 3£ inches. The standi ing crops, and such of them as were cut but not stacked, have received considerable damage, but as there is a promise of a change tor the 1 better in the weather, it is not anticipated the loss to farmers will be" very serious. The water draining from the high ground behind the town had the effect of flooding many of the gardens, and washing the gravel off the roads, and in some cases, the water rose a few inches in the houses. The Oi-oua River and the Mangaone creek rose very rapidly, and flooded the low-lying lands on the banks with the backwater, but as with the latter there was fortunately no citrrent, nothing was swept away. In Whisker's paddocks the sheaves of corn were' seen floating about, and the water was deeper on a part of the Awahuri road than' it was ever known to be before; but no sheep have been reported as drowned. The approaches to some of the smaller bridges haye been washed away, and traffic temporarily stopped, but they will ' be put in repair during the course of today. ■ Marton was in flood yesterday from the Tutaenui overflowing its banks, and some damage was done in Broad street. Communication with Wariganui' is stopped, but it is hoped that a train will get through to-night. All the available hands on the section are hard at work making good the damage. The following are the telegraphic-re-ports from other parts of the colony ; — (pee press association.) Wellington, February 13. The Eailway Commissioners haye received a telegram to the effect that a portion of the Eailway line at Bonnie Glen, near Turakina, has been washed away by the floods and through traffic is impeded, but it is expected an interchange of passengers will be effected by the up and down trains if the dray road is passable. "Wangaktui, February 13. The heaviest floods ever known in Wanganui came down this morning. Taupo Quay was partly submerged, and danger was threatened to the boat sheds. Several small bridges are reported washed away, and many stacks came down whole. Some punts and many boats were washed away to sea, and one was smashed against the bridge. Woodville, February 13. An extraordinary heavy rainfall was experienced last night, 4 j inches having fallen in 24 hours, which is the heaviest rainfall recorded here. All the riyers are in high flood. On the Napier-Woodville line traffic is stopped by a slip at Victoria and the Mataiwi embankment is giving way. A portion of the Napier-Palmer-ston road has been washed away, and it is believed, there are heavy slips in the Gorge, but there is no possibility of communicating to there as yet. Later. The Gorge line is- blocked by slips to the estimated extent of fifteen thousand tons of earth. The road is also blocked by three slips. The flood has played havoc with the embankment at the railway bridge across the Pohangina River at Ashurst,' a large portion of which has been washed. away. Large portions have slipped away right up to and in some cases under the rails At ;the diversion of the road near- Mr Cobb's a large slip has also occurred. This Day. One slip of 1500 tms of rock on the Gorge line have brnt the rail--. . The rails will have to be rflaid. The em bankments hare also suffered. New Plymouth, February 13. Owing to the heavy downfall of rain the low lands.on the banks, of the Waiwakiho are flooded. A Chinaman's garden has been washed away and his horse "drowned. Wanganui, February 13. . The river commenced to rise rapidly on Thursday night, and in the lower portion of the town at 11 a.m. yesterday it flooded the basements of the hotels and business places. Ihere is an enormous current in the river, and the water is very thick, with ' a strong sulphurous smell. Timber of all kinds is brought down from the upper parts of the river, besides Maori canoes, sheep, cattle, and furniture of all kinds. Several grain stacks have also been washed down opposite the town. The Harbour Board punts and dredge were washed out to sea. The water continued to rise, until 2.30 p.m., and extended along Taupo Quay and the railway station ; also up the Avenue for two chains. Boats- and canoes were used in the streets. The business stocks of Messrs Paul and Co., and Thain and Co. had to be removed, and were fortunately sayed. The water rose to within four feet of the decking of the bridge and came over the wharf, fears being held at one time for the safety of the bridge owing to the punts and heavy timber clashing against it. The bridge, however, stood firm and suffered no arm. The water is now receding* but it is feared that when high tide ore irs, at 2 a.m., there will be another flooding of the streets. The water was over kn^e deep on Taupo quay, and old settlers state the flood is the highest on record. Rumours were about to-day that the Turakina Railway and Wangaehu road bridges had been washed away, but they were found to be untrue, though the latter bridge is thought to be strained, and if the water rises again it is feared it will be washed away. Auckland, February 13. The weather during the past two days lias been of a singular character, there having been a heavy downpour of rain, with tue air close &nd mufrgy.