THE FLOODS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 444, 16 June 1902, Page 2

THE FLOODS.

FEARS OF A REPETITION OF 1897.

The following Press Association‘messages were received on. Saturday WAIRAWA.—Thirty-six hours’ continuous rain has caused a heavy flood in the river. The low-lying country is submerged. It is still raining steadily. DANNEVIRKE. —In consequence of the damage to the line, the train service on this section of the railway is interrupted. During the last -18 hours six inches of rain has fallen, and tt is still raining. All the rivers are swollen.

FEILDING.—Heavy rain fell yesterday and last night. Tiie Oroua river is in high ilood, and a large amount of land is being washed away. The township is comparatively free from flood, but it is tiie heaviest fresh in the river for years.

CARTERTON.—At Martinborough the rivers are higher than in last heavy floods. Land for miles is inundated. Traffic is suspended, and the mailman is unable to get through. Most of the stock lias been removed. Mr Considine was unable to remove 200 sheep and two horses. There are grave fears for the Ruamahunga bridge. MARTON.— I The heavy rain in tiiis district lias caused the Rangttfkei river to be in high flood. Last night the temporary bridge at Bulls was washed away, also the low level bridge at Mangaweka. The approach to the Otara bridge on the Ohingaiti side was washed away, and the bridge is now uncrossable for horse traffic. WOODVILLE.—Heavy rain set in

here on Thursday night, and has continued without cessation since. The Manawatu river is in high flood. All the low- lying levels, Ormond's, Nelson’s, and Bunny’s properties, are under water. The settlers are having an anxious time, though they were able to remove all stock to higher ground before the river rose very high. The river presents a fine sight, being visible from the main street of the town. The road through to the Gorge is. blocked, the river being nearly level with the railway line at Mangaatua ; and it is over the road at Abraham and Williams’ sale yards. The whole train service is d sorgnnised. The express train from Wellington arrived at.half-past seven, passengers having transhipped to the down express at Mangamalioe. The latter then returned. All other trains between here and Masterton have been cancelled.

There is a big slip on the Matahiw hill.

The train from Dannevirke ran clean through the slip. It was covered with mud from engine to van. The funeral of the late Dr Milne was to take place this afternoon, but owing to it being impossible for anyone to reach the cemetery by the road,. arrangements are being made for a special. train to .go as far as the Gorge with the funeral party. PALMERSTON N.—The heaviest flood experienced for years is now running in the Manawatu river, practically the whole of the Hokowh tu district is under water. The settlers are being removed in boats, and it is reported that a large number of stock have been drowned. The water in the river is fully -a. foot higher than in the disastrous flood of Easter 1897. The town water supply has been cut off, the pipes over the Fitzherbert bridge breaking at midnight last night. Several narrow escapes are reported, but up to the present no loss of life has

Occurred. The river is fully threequarters of a mile wide at the Fitzherbert bridge, and is overflowing its banks at Hokowhitu and oil the racecourse. It is still raining, and ' the river is still rising. . NAPlEß.—Napier is at present in a state of isolation caused by the heaviest flood experienced here lor years. Rain has fallen steadily since Thursday night, and this, together with a tremendously heavy rainfall on the high back country, and the melting of the snow on the ranges, caused the rivers to rise very rapidly. All the low-lying country between Napier and Hastings, on both sides of the line, is under . water, and there is no communication either by road or rail with these districts. A boat was taken out by train this afternoon, manned by a number of willing helpers, to bring away some of the settlers In the Meanee and Papakura districts, many of whom are in need of assistance, their houses being inundated. It is not known whether the railway line has sustained any damage, but it Is so submerged in places that it is impossible for trains to run. Advices from other places show that the rainfall has been exceptionally heavy throughout the province, and if the rain does not soon cease a repetition of the disastrous flood of 1897. may have to bg recorded.

LATEST INFORMATION. FLOOD WATERS SUBSIDING. ALL SAFE, (Per Press Association). NAPIER, last night. The rain has now almost ipased, and the flood waters are now rapidly subsiding. Some portion of the permanent way was found to be washed away, but a gang of men were put on to-day, and railway communication will be restored to-morrow, though mails ana passengers will have to be trollied over a portion of the lilies^ There has been a small wash-out on the Taradale road, which will prevent vehicular traffic in that direction for a day or two. There has been very little loss "of stock. All the country places are quite safe., (Special to Times.)NAPIER, last night. There is every indication of the weather clearing, although a very heavy sea is still running. Reports from country districts received this evening show that there is bound to be a considerable loss of property, but fortunately no lives have been sacrificed. Communication by railway with the South will be resumed tomorrow morning. There has been no rain at - Napier to-day.