NORTH ISLAND FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1926, Page 1

NORTH ISLAND FLOODS

, MANY DISTRICTS INUNDATED.

[bv TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION,

WELLINGTON, July 26. Warm rains have been melting the snow on the hills. These, supplemented by heavy rains on Sunday, and today. have resulted in serious flooding in the country districts. There are reports of slips, flooded

rivers, broken banks, and roads under

water. The districts most seriously affected are Foxton, Levin. Shannon and the surroimding country. Embankments erected at Miranu about two years ago have broken un-

der the pressure of flood waters, making the surrounding land like a huge lake.

Slips are reported from Mangahao. Tlie road from Shannon to Mangahao will be impassable for some days. At Moutoa, the waters pierced the embankment, and water is now flowing in the direction of Foxton. The Manawatu river has risen 14ft. and is said to lie still rising. Later advice is to the effect that the bank on the Slum non-Makcma road lias broken away, and flood waters are threatening the railway line, licit only a few inches away at Mananui. Slips on the Taita Gorge have made tho road to Wnirarana impassable. The Hutt River was in high flood today. It was ten feet above normal, but later reports are to tho effect that the water is subsiding. WANGANUI. July 26. A phenomenal downpour of rain yesterday and to-day lias inundated the low country all round Wanganui. Great damage has heen wrought. Roads are awash, bridges are down, and communications generally are upset. The Wanganui river has risen steadily. Tt is now level with the town wharf and great quantifies of driftwood are coming down. The river is s.till rising. It threatens to overflow' into the lower portion of the city, equalling tho record flood of 1904. Tho main road south is under water at many places. Wangaehu Valley is like a sea of yellow water, tho lie* there being isolated. Many settlers here and elsewhere are cut off. The. floods bad a fatal sequel at Okoia, five miles from Wanganui, where a boy named William Alfred Naughton, aged 11 was drowned in a swollen stream, which had risen over the main road. He had heen sent a message to a store. He failed to return and searchers found his body 400 yards downstream. The boy is believed to have lost his footing wliilq travelling tho flooded road. NEW PLYMOUTH, July 26. Continuous rain lias fallen since Saturday afternoon, and it lias caused extensive floods in the low-lying areas of North Taranaki.

TJruti township has suffered most seriously, being practically isolated. To-day the rivers were fully thirty

feet above normal when the spring tide was full. Tlie water invaded many houses, in • some cases cutting off the escape of the residents for the time being. Early this morning two feet of water covered the floor of the Post Office, and the Postmistress called in assistance to remove the safe and valuables to a less dangerous position. Tho Post Office was untenable all day. Tho main road north from Taranaki was completely-blocked, the water in places being up to tho level of tlie fence tops.

Several slips occurred on Mt. Messenger Road, and it will probably be some time before communications reopen . A number of motor passengers from New Plymouth to Auckland had to motor south to join the Main Trunk at Marton. Over three inches of rain has fallen in New Plymouth, nearly two inches falling to-day. Very heavy seas are running, with spring tide. There are no immediate prospects of the high wind or the rain abating. TAUMARUNUI, July 26.

Heavy rain fell here over the weekod. and it continued to-day. The

rainfall until 9 a.m. to-day was two and three-quarter inches. The rivers are rising, but so far have not reached danger point. A few slips on the road are reported.

TO-DAY’S REPORT. WELLINGTON, July 27. Rain which was so severe elsewhere, was not exceptionally heavy round Wellington, hut was enough to flood Hutt river, while on both roads leading out of town slips have fallen and the route to Wairarapa > is blocked. Reports from Shannon state it is impossible to get past, even by horse, without danger. The road bridge at Linton is seriously threatened, the water lapping the floor boards. In Wellington the rain has completely cleared off and the day is bright and sunny. MANAWATU’S PLIGHT. PALMERSTON N-, July 27. Since Saturday afternoon, rain has fallen almost. continuously in Manawatu and adjacent districts. All lowlying parts of the town are under water, and all streams and rivers are in heavy flood. The storm is the worst since 1902. Hawaii stream broke its hanks and flooded Takaro Park. There is much erosion on the river b'ahks, especialy at Fitzroy Bend, which is always a. source of anxiety and danger. The power line at Linton was washed out of position and a gang of men arc engaged keeping the cables clear of water. Stock is floating down the river Oroua, which is in high flood. Manawatu Gorge is blocked by slips and is impassable. Pahiatua track is also blocked, so that communication across the hills is quite cut off. Cars are to be seen abandoned about the roads, cut off by water.