EXTENSIVE FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1932, Page 5

EXTENSIVE FLOODS

IN WAIRARAPA

WHOLE AREAS ARE INUNDATED*

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

•MASTERTON, August 30.

There was a steiuly rainfall overnight and this morning, which, added to the heavy,fall of the past two days, caused serious in various parts of the streets became impassable to pedestrians';' - ;jtlatiy of • the families on the eastern sipe. of the town were practically cut off from, outside communication,, their houses being surrounded by water from swollen creeks, which normally carry only a few inches of water. .

Tiie street culverts were unable 'to cope with the rush of water. A* number of the streets were flooded to a depth up to two feet..

Fowlbouses, garages and washhouses were flooded, and in several cases the water was but two inches from the floors of the houses. *

The creeks which have; broken loose still show no signs of falling, and ; anxiety is now felt by the residents. The water from the creeks' has entered several of the houses, .. Railway communication with -Masterton has been interrupted by a slip on the line at Mangamahce, fifteen mile* north from Masterton. Milder conditions now exist. The rain has eased off. Bq five o’clock in the afternoon the water had receded considerably, and all danger of further flooding appears to.be passed, as the sky is now oloudMost of the flooding occurred as the result of the creeks flowing through' the town overflowing, and the culverts being unable to cope with the water. Good progress has been made with the restoration of the telephones affected by Sunday’s snow, . ’ - A fatality occurred this afternoon, when a child named Ncta Fay Greaves, six years of age, the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Clarence Greaves, : was found lying in a four feet pool of banked up flood waters at. the side of the road near their, home.. The child had bepn playing with a little friend on t e road, and apparently fell into the pool, being unnoticed at the time. •; _ According to an aerial survey of the lower valley region, miles and miles of ; country are under' water. In many cases the water is up to the fence tops, while in the Ponatahi' district the water is swirling round the doors of several houses. The waters of the Ruamalianga River are still rushing through a breach in the stopbank, thus adjmg to the volume of the water, which covers practically the. whole of the adjacent lowlying country.... , - The floods in the Lower Valley are reported to bo< the worst for many years. Many of the farmers were caugh napping when t the •Eahniara stop-bank gave way, lettmg through an enormous volume cf water, with devastating effect.'. ; . ■ - The Wairarapa Lake is rising steadily and this is causing the settlers some' anxiety as to the safety of the protective banks around the lake.

MANAWATU DISTRICT SUFFERS. PALMERSTON N., August .29..,

The banks in the Tiakitahupa area were, unable to hold this volume of water which to-day inundated thousands’ of acres. on both sides of the Foxton railway .line, which is now under water for several miles. The trains are suspended, and farm house are isolated. The women and children in the Rangiotu vicinity have been conveyed to 1 safety in boats. The settlers had; ample warning to shift their., stock, and consequently their losses are negligible. On the Wnkerua side, the stopbanka are holding well. The observer here is presented with a striking contrast. Behind him the fertile Makerua Plains with the stock, pea'cefylly grazing m if nothing, were happening, while across the riv# there was a vast panorama of water as far as the eye could see. In places the Makerua area is winning with higher ,stopbanka.,

WATER NOW RECEDING. PALMERSTON August 31. The Manaw,atu River has appreciably subsided, and ihe flood waters-are now receding. A large%ea is still inundated, but all marooned families are safe. Both the main highway and railway from Palmerston North to Foxton are still impassable. . The gorge road is open though care js needed.