The flood.

Manawatu Herald, 16 April 1895, Page 2

The flood.

It is superfluous to mention that it rained on Friday night and has since. The rain made a record for the business-like manner it fell. It rained elsewhere also, at Feilding, at Woodville and generally all around. The result is a heavy flood in the Manawatu. Yesterday morning at Moutoa the river was more than bank high, and the flat in front of Mr Allan Strang's house was under water, so was Mr John Walden's garden, and Mr R. Walden's flaxmill. During the afternoon the flood rose and very early this morning the river got over the embankment by Mr Smith's and covered all the low lying Iand on the road to the ferry. At three o'clock Mr John Burr had the exhilarating pursuit of swimming his milch cows off his property on the point near Mr Edwards'. The water on parts of the Moutoa road is said to be nearly ten feet deep, the only means of doing so he thought better of the matter and returned home. The water is all over the Wirokino country and Mr Stannett has had a job with his coach, but he got through yesterday to Levin and back, and also made another trip to Kereru in the afternoon, taking with him Mr Sladden, the manager of the Wellington Freezing Works and Mr W. E. Forster, manager of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.,

who were both anxions to reach Wellington last night, and had first tried by way of Shannon, but were stopped. Mr Stansell was successful in getting through again with this morning's coach. It is reported that all communicacation is interrupted between Feilding and Palmerston. Our townsmen who went to the Feilding races yesterday morning are detained there or at Palmerston-— all roads and railways being blocked by the waters. No train got down last night. There is a rumour that the Oroua railway bridge is washed away. Feilding is said to be much under water and the volunteers are all de tained there and are encamped in churches and school buildings. The flood, we expect, will be a record one, as last night a considerable, quantity of timber came down the river showing that the waters had reached a higher level than heretofore. Mr Keith, the mailman informs ns that to-day the whole country froto just below Shannon to Strang's corner is under water. The depth of the water on the Shannon side can be guaged by the statement that the rails of the bridges are covered, and, in some places are swept away. Right from the Ferry to Strang's corner the river is pouring across the road and it is supposed that the embankment is washed away. Few of our townsmen returned today from Palmerston via Levin. They travelled to there last night and had to cross over part of the railway company's swamp, near Linton, on planks, the embankment carrying, the rails have been washed out.

(From our own correspondent.) (By telegraph.) Oroua Bridge, This day. From Oroua Bridge to Karere there is nothing but one foaming sea. All the line and bridges have been washed away from Oroua Bridge schoolhouse to Jackeytown. Most of the cattle and sheep have been saved. There is 10 feet of water in Mrs Jones' Post Office and store. All the furniture and clothing has been washed away. Mr Meldon's store is also under water. Mr Simpson and two sons have been busy with boats since 5 o'clock this morning helping those in need. He has just gone to rescue 300 pigs, which they are landing in boats. Tbe flood is still rising, and it is within a foot of the flood of 1880.