BIG FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1929, Page 5

BIG FLOODS

HAWKE’S BAY INUNDATED,

SERIOUS DAMAGE FEARED

{By Telegraph—i'er Press Association.)

NAPIER, Alay 15. Hcretaunga Plains are tnieaumod with a flood which equal that of 181)7. The main road soum Devalue blocked during the night and other roads this morning. Ktuliwiy buses are making a dotour hut owing to the threatened closing of the i\/ad at Waiiangi. An inland deU>..r may he found necessary.

Water is reported to he up to the decking ol ucUciyne bridge • .uitm the Tutaekuri river overflowed. The overflow channel lor Tutaekupi came into businesslike operation for the first time overnight, and its effects are being closely watched, as part of the district is afraid it means disaster to Clive, while l relieving Taradalo and Aloeanee.

The rainfall lias been heavy in the hack country and threatens to continue.

Napier’s fall in the last twenty-four hours was 2i inches.

The Ngaruroro rose very rapidly overnight. All stock was removed to higher levels. Should Redclyffe bridge become blocked, Napier will be cut off from the south.

The inland road at Rissington is blocked now, the level bridge being submerged. It is reported that seventy-five people are held up at a creek 17 miles north of Napier where they have been sine© yesterday, being unable to retreat or advance. Food and comforts are being sent out.

REPORTS OF DAMAGE,

HASTINGS, Alay 15

Rain, driven by a brisk south-east wind set in yesterday and continued heavily through the night. For twenty-four hours ended at 9 a.m.. 41 inches was recorded in Hastings and of! inches since 4 a.m. yesterday at Whana, about 25 miles up country.

TTie rivers are running- bank to bank and'overflowing in places, blocking the yoiid. so that traffic between Hastings and Napier was stopped af 9.30, and the railway ran special trains as the line is clear, - The Nganiroro at Pernhill overflowed on'.(to paddocks on Aloto side, >ut no damage was notified. At 11.30 the weather.was relenting and as- the tide is now on the ebb, it is hoped conditions will improve. Hastings is not threatened at all..

RESCUE OPERATIONS. NAPIER, May 15

Efforts are being made to erect a rope across the creek at Tangoio in order to rescue the fifty-five, not seventy as previously 1 stated, people, who have been marooned there since yesterday.

The rivers are now receding slightly at the lower danger points, but >his is clue, it is believed, to breaks higher up, where the water nas got out of control. Stock losses on the plains Will probably be light as farmers were removing stock yesterday and , throughout the night. The weather is brightening slightly and the rain is iiiuch less severe. The sea is moderately rough. The danger is not all over as much hack country water has yet to come down.

RESCUING AIAROONED PASSENGERS. NAPIER, Alay 15

Some of the maroneed car passengers at Tangoio have been brought across the creek on a wire rope. The others arc to follow.

NORTH ISLAND FLOODS. . MASTER-TON, Alay 15

It is likely that stock losses will ho fairly heavy around Tinui, as the sudden rise of the river came as a surprise to settlers, and before the sheep could he removed to the hilly country. The extent of the losses will not be known for a day or two.

/HEAVY RAIN AT MASTER-TON. MASTER-TON, May 15. Heavy rain has fallen throughout the district during the past 24 hours. The rivers are flooded and low-lying land is under water. Over 3in. of rain fell in 24 hours.