BIG FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1929, Page 6

BIG FLOODS

■ IN NORTH ISLAND. HAWKE’S BAY MENACED BY FURTHER RISE OF WATERS. JY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. NAPIER, May 15. After two days of steady, and at times very heavy rain, the low-lying country near the rivers' from Waipu,kunui in the south to nearly Wairoa in the north was inundated to-day. . Three rivers broke their banks, lhc railway line was under deep water between Napier and Hastings, and numerous roads were blocked. Napiei itself escaped. The farming districts surrounding Napier were hard hit, although no great loss of stock occurred, thanks to the ample warning given. The mails to Napier were all delayed owing to the express from Wellington being unable to get through. The passengers were transferred to buses, which made a detour. and they, as well as the mails, reached Napier late. If the downpour does not abate tonight, more breaks are expected in the rivers, which are still rising last, with serious consequences. Most of. the danger is being experienced at Meanee, the small village right on the hanks of the. Tutuchui 1 river not far from Napier. Last night the water-had risen -121 feet above normal; and the residents, worked-,through the night stopping gaps in; the banks adjacent to their residences, with sand bags and any other .material handy. During yesterday .afternoon a blockage at the bridge leading to the village, caused- the water to flow over and p-oiir down the approaches to the surrunding country. The river cleared itself here, however, and the approaches were dammed to prevent a recurrence. . Although the banks were ‘ raised sufficiently to save an overflow near the village which would have meant a disastrous flooding of the Taradale district and many small farms in the vicinity, the river made breaches in three other places. This afternoon, it was 12ft. 9in. above normal, .and-a-.fur-ther rise was expected 'to-night. 7; '.'so PEOPLE' TRAPPED.. 7 i An exciting time was experienced by 50 passengers in thirteen service cars, . besides ~tw<>..trucks,., wliieli were held iip 'all night uAjTaiigoia on the Napier-Wairpa' Road. The. pfirty was. trapped owing-to 'an' impateablc stream ahead and a slip behind, and had to remain beside the ford all night, and without food until this morning,. >yhen they were got across by means df ropes suspended over the stream. The bus service between Napier and .IJastings stopped , at. 1Q.30 ing, and a special train service was instituted. However, the line was so deep under water by tbpee o’clock this afteynoon tlpit it -was .deemed unwise to let the South express go out. The passengers were taken to Hastings in buses by' a roundabout route, and n ;traip. despatched. fynm Tbc'pnssengers .and mails on : .thp, Wellington Express to-night were.]tfansliippcd at Hastings to ‘buses, and’’thence to a special train at Clive. . A work gang will inspect to-mor-row morning to gauge any danger. A DANGER POINT. Late to-night the Ngaruroro river was the worst danger. The surrounding ands were all under water, and the stock was hurriedly removed to high places. The waters had reached a higher level than in the last flood, and it was considered, that if no fall occurred the position' was likely to be very serious-. WAIRARAPA FLOODS. STOCK LOSSES. MASTERTON, May 15. Heavy rain has fallen throughout the district during the past 24 hours. The rivers are flooded, and the lowlying land is under water. Over three inches of rain fell in 24 hours. It is likely that stock losses will be fairly heavy around Tinui, as the sudden rise of the river came as a surprise to the settlers, and before the sheep could be removed to the liiiiy country. The extent of flic losses will not be known for a day or two. HUGE SHEET OF WATER. CASTLE POINT DISTRICT. MANY HOMES EVACUATED. MASTERTON, May 15. The worst floods experienced at Tinui for over 20 years occurred today. The Casfclepoint County Office and several residences were invaded by flood waters. The township was completely cut off, and no mails were despatched or received.

There is one sheet of water from hillside to hillside all the way from Tinui to Longdale. In 24 hours, till seven o’clock this morning, about Gin. of rain was recorded.

The residences invaded hv flood waters are those of Messrs Liddington, H. F. McTsnac, T. A. Weston, Constable Wilson, and tlie Vicarage occupied by Rev 11. ‘Whitby .Tames, besides the County Office. Tlie latter had water to a depth of six or seven inches, and the County Clerk, Mr T. A. Weston, had to remove his office

books and other papers to a safer place. The inroads of Hie water at the residences mentioned wore so serious that they had to be vacated, except in the case of the \ icaragc, where the occupants were absent. There, however, residents found articles oi furniture floating round, and they, promptly removed all the articles from the floor. Very good service was rendered by Messrs R.' J. Stevenson, P. Fly and Constable Wilson in assisting residents. Mr Stevenson bad to remove bis motor lorry from his garage, m which. latter the water was three feet deep. It did not, however, invade his bouse, but was as- high as the dooistep. Mr E. H. Schofield was another sufferer, and had to vacate his house. It is antiepated that the losses of stock in the district will lie fairly heavy, as the flood came so suddenly that*the settlers had little time to remove their sheep. Latest reports show that the waters were receding, but it was still running heavily this evening, and with the backing up of the Wharema River with the tide, further trouble was expected. The rivers arc reported to be rising in the Lower Wairarapa Valley this evening, and floods may be expected to occur in that district in the next 24 hours. Water was flowing over the Martin-borough-Fcatlierstou road early this evening.. Damage has also occurred on the East .Coast' from Martinboroiigh. CYCLONE MOVING AWAY." .. : The Dominion Meteorologist state's that now the cyclone responsible 'for the bad weather is moving away to the south east, there should be much improvement in. the weather. There will be strong southerly, winds to-day, v ith showery ,weather, but there should he some relief in. the .arcqs which have suffered from floods.