MANAWATU FLOODS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 21 August 1939, Page 7

MANAWATU FLOODS

LOWLANDS COVERED WATERS RECEDING TO-DAY (Per Press Association.) LEVIN, this day. The full effect of the flood in the Manawatu River and its tributaries was felt yesterday by settlers in the lower reaches around Buckley and Moutoa, near Shannon, where the waters continued to pour over lowlying lands through breaches forced in the protection banks. Fully 12,000 acres were covered to depths ranging from 4 to 10ft. Yesterday in the Buckley area the houses of five settlers and two Chinese market gardeners were surrounded. the water being as high as 1 3ft in the rooms. Only the tops of haystacks could be seen, while cattle, horses and sheep lined the stopbanks. The flood at Moutoa came with amazing swiftness, forcing seven settlers and natives living in a pa to abandon their homes, the rooms of which filled to a depth of 2ft. with water.

Large numbers of stock were removed to higher ground, but some settlers will be heavy losers. On one small patch of high .ground 300 cows ■/ere assembled.

To-day the waters had receded fully 2ft., but the position of the farmers is serious. The land is already in a water-logged condition, and the floodwaters arc likely to lie for three weeks in sortie areas, depriving the settlers still further of much-needed pasture. Those lands which clear more readily have sufrcrcd deposits of silt. Rail communication between Shannon and Levin is, .not yet restored, ?nd passengers are being conveyed between the two towns by bus. The line is covered to a depth of a few mches, and until the Waters recede 'o permit of an inspection the usual service will not be resumed.