SEVERE STORMS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1932, Page 5

SEVERE STORMS

SERIOUS DAMAGE

FLOODS DESTROY LIVE STOCK.

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

J MASTERTON, August 29. Tire heavy rainfall! experienced following yesterday’s show has resulted in serious flooding, several houses in the town being surrounded with water. The Waippua .irivdr biSk* through, at a point, close to the'town. No danger is anticipated. ,

Considerable damage'has been done to power lines. The telephone service has been interrupted. All of the street fine alarms are out of order..’ Four inches of rain has fallen since' Saturday night, being the heaviest experienced for: many years. Serious stock' losses are feared, particularly lambs. : •'

Extensive areas of country in the Waira-rapa district are flooded as' the result of the heavy rain and snow of the past two days. Although rain fell generallly, the snow was restricted; to comparatively a, limited area, extending from Wainganawa to Kaipa-' rn.ro, and a few miles eastwards of Masterton, '

The total rainfall of the past 48 hours in Masterton. was about three inches, but much snow on the Tararua ranges was melted by the warm weather of Saturday, and this swelled the rivers, although far heavier rain mhst have fallen in the ranges. ■ About three inches of snow fell in Masterton and in the vicinity, where much damage was done to the telephone, telegraph and., electric power lines, which broke under the strain. The repairs will take .several days. The Masterton telephone lines have been suffering severely, 300 .’automatics being affected and 1 many manual lines. Telegraphic communication to the' north is ( interrupted at Kopuranga, but. one circuit has been "repaired this afternoon. The rivers are now falling, but there is serious, flooding around Wairarapa Lake at Kahutera. Tawha and Pihuatea. At the latter place, it is reported, the people had to be removed from their houses by boats, and heavy stock losses are feared.

A wash-out on the railway at Fernbridge necessitates the transhipment of passengers.lt is not expected that the line will bo restored until Wednesday at the earliest. ■,'

It is estimated : that, 800 sheep on' the property of , the Elgar Estate were lost.

The waters are now reported to he receding, and further stock losses are not anticipated.