The Flood,

Manawatu Herald, 5 August 1893, Page 3

The Flood,

It commenced raining here on Wednesday evening, and only ceased early t^us morning. The country is naturally- very wet. Locally the ■♦land is covered with water, the Motoa swamp being full, the road to Wirokino is covered with water and the coach was unable to get through this morning. At Motoa the river is over the bank a foot, but Mr F. Carter says, at present, it is not bo high as the last flood by a foot, bat the river is still rising. Part of the Motoa road is under water and the water.is running through the road line near Mr Edwards' property. We learn from Mr Curtis, our postmasier, that at the Gorge the river has only risen twelve feet above its usual level this morning and as

the weather was fine it looked as though it would not rise much morf> The river was stated, last nighfc, to have risen twenty-six feet at Ashuvst. This might be accounted for by the flood in the Pohangina. Friday night's Manawatu 'Jimes reports a narrow escape for the Manawafcu train. Shortly before the train t» Wellington was due at Ohuu last evening, a Maori boy noticed that the southern approach to the Wuikawa bridge, between Ohau and Manakau was washed away, and the raila and sleepers were swinging. He at once gave the alarm, and with the assistance of a settler and the ganger, arrangements were made for stopping the train at the Ohau siding. The train was stopped, and after explanations as to the cause of stoppage had been made, it proceeded on to the scene of the slip and remained there until 1.30- It was then hacked to Levin, where several of the passengers were put up at the hotel. The ladies were provided with refreshments by Mr Walter Freeman, who did all in his power to make them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. When the passengers by the morning train arrived at Levin they, together with those who had remained there all night, were taken on to the slip, where they were met by a train from Wellington. The passengers were able to walk across on planks, and they were then taken on to their respective destinations. The train had a remarkably narrow escape, as had the slip not been discovered as it were accidentally, it miist have plunged into the chasm, which is at least 30ft. wide. The passengers subscribed an amount to reward the intelligence of the Maori boy, who, by his prompt action had saved their lives. The passengers report that l , ast evening there were several bridges where the water was up to the decking, and this morning the slips had to be cleared away between Manakau and Wellington before the train could come on. Every attempt is being made tb fill up the part washed away, but it will be some days before through traffic can be resumed. The passengers from Wellington did not arrive in Palmerston until 1.10 this afternoon, and the Wanganui and Napier trains were delayed until its arrival. Arrangements were made for crossing the trains, so that they will arrive at Palmerston on this evening. Mr R. Stanseil informs us that no train or mail from Wellington came through to-day, owing to the numerous slips between Manakan and Johnsonville. The train left Wellington this morning, but on reaching Pukerua had to put back. The flood in the Ohau has been exceedingly high, within two feet of the floor of the bridge, but it has fallen to within eight feet now. There are numerous slips on the cleavings on the hills down the railway line.