Floods.

Manawatu Herald, 18 April 1895, Page 2

Floods.

On Monday night the Manawatu was flowing over the planking of the Fitzherbert bridge at Palmerston. We have reported that the river overflowed on Monday at Moutoa. Between Strang's corner and the bill near the old church the water was rushing in like a sluice, and came down by the willows and through what was a pipe culvert into the Moutoa swamp. On Tuesday evening it was roaring and rushing like a mountain torrent. A number of Messrs Strang's sheep were yarded at the corner dry, but wholly surrounded by water. On Tuesday evening the waters were over the Moutoa swatnp from the Red House and the Karikari drain to Moutoa, and fast gaining ground towards Foxton. The flood was also over Mrs Purcell's property in the swamp. Tuesday night made a great difference in the matter of water to many settlers. The high tide and the flood water rose very rapidly at 3 o'clock on Wednesday morning covering all the land very quickly up to the road on Nye's aud Hughes' properties. Mr McPherson was fortunately awake and heard the roar and went across and woke Mr W. Purcell, who was living on the adjoining section. So quick did the water rise that it was almost up to the sleeping bunk before the occupant left. Mr McPherson had much trouble to make his way back through the water. Young Master Percy Easton about the same time thoughtfully rode down to Herrington and warned the Messrs Robinson about the rise in the water. Yesterday the water rose over all the land between Mrs Purcell's resi dence and Mr 0. Symons', and Mr C. Symons' and J. Symons 1 families had to be taken away in boats. The flood went up the drain running down Bowe's valley, and has flooded Joe Tos's garden, Mr Easton 's paddocks, part of Messrs Hughes and Satherley's land. Last evening the waters of the swamp crept round a ridge and began emptying itself down Bowe's paddocks. The loss, when known, will prove most disastrous to the settlers, many losing their all, others suffering most considerable damage. The Motoa Estate lost one mob of 800 lambs near the Shannon Ferry, drowned from their being no dry place to put them on. Another moo of 1100 fat Bheep are packed on a small spot of dry land by the river from which, owing to the force of the current, it is impossible to move them. Mr John Walden informs us that the heighth of the flood is by a mark on his house within one foot of the 1880 flood, the highest ever known. The shepherd, Mr Fisher, on the Motoa Estate, was nearly drowned on Tuesday afternoon. He was on horseback in all the waters and found his horse floundering about, and thinking he was entangled in a wire fence, jumped off. He was unable to mount again and passed some hours up to his neck in water, clinging to a fence, unable to get along, until he was thoroughly numbed. Fortunately Mr Angus Eeith was passing on horseback with the mail, and seeing his position pushed on till he was able to secure a canoe, which be took to Fisher's rescue, and passed the night With him at his house; Thus a report got current from Mr Eeith nos arriving at Shannon that night, that be was^drowaed. The sight of the waters from a hiH at Moutoa yesterday morning was awe inspiring. One sea of thick and raging waters met the eye, and on the Moutoa river bank it poured over the puny embankment raised to re - sist it, over two feet deep. The whole of the Railway Company's swamp is under water from 10 to 18 feet deep, and as this extends back some 8 to 12 miles to the ranges, the body of water can be imagined. We learn that Mr John Burr has lost all the sheep he had grazing opposite Moutoa. ' It goes without doubt, we very much fear, that all the stock of the settlers will have been lost along Moutoa, by drowning or cold, except Messrs Carter's, Smith and Howe. No communication has, however, toateWWllfttiW*

We are anxious as to the safety of Mr R. Gardner and family, as the flood is evidently all around their house. Yesterday the water was said to have fallen six inches in the river at Moufcoa, bat at the lower end near Foxton it had evidently risen. Up to last night the water in the Moutoa Swamp was steadily rising. I On the estate they have barely 1000 acres of dry land. On the road lines across the sWamp Water HoW lays from 9 to 12 feet deep. From Mr Thynne's hill looking east, south, and west over the Moutoa Estate there is nothing but a vast lake with an island or two dotted about, which a week ago were bright green fields of grass. No mails teach here. Mr Staasell made a try yesterday morning, but the water was too deep. The Shannon mailman also wisely desisted from the dangerous attempt^. Last night the flood lowered in the swamp about a foot. Mr Ingram, the linesman, informs us that yesterday the water fell ,at : the Oroua Bridge nearly three <ef|, Both railway and traffic bridge are still there, the rumour that they had disappeared being an error. A long length of line through the bend is washed out, and a big rush of water at the Oroua station swept a good bit of the formation away. The hands are now making this good. It is doubtful if the repairs can be completed within a week. Mr Stansell has made arrangements to carry the mail and left this morning by coach to the flood and then by boat to Wirokino, where on the other side a buggy from Levin will meet him. The Postmaster here has made arrangements for the Palmerston mail to be sent to Levin, and the Wellington mails to be delivered there instead of Shannon. Two spans of the cart bridge at this end of of the Manawatu, Gorge are carried away. On Monday the Railway Department received telegrams stating that the railway line is blocked at Bunnythorpe, Halcombe, Kakariki and Okoia, between Palmerston and Wanganui, and that there are blocks between Brunswick and Kai Iwi on the New Plymouth- Wanganui sec* tion. The approach to the bridge at Kakariki, over the Rangitikei River, is washed away. Numerous slips have occurred on the line between Eketahuna and Mauriceville, and it is expected that they will not be cleared away for several days. The line between Mauriceville and Eopuaranga is under water for a distance of hah* a mile. Five heavy slips have occurred between Mangamahoe and Eketahuna, besides a large number of minor slips. Near Eketahuna there is a block extending over about three chains. No trains run beyond Masterton. A large quantity of earth fell on the line at Ladle Bend, on the Rimutaka, but the debris was soon cleared away, and the traffic was not interrupted for long. At Masterton it was reported that the greatest downpour of rain experienced in this district for years has been falling sinoe ' Saturday, and showed no signs of abatement on Monday. During the three days no less than eight inches of rain ffffi fallen. The Waipoua River has overflowed. ) The Public Park is under water, and most of the streets leading off from the river are inundated. The Ruamahunga River has also overflowed, and the country for miles around is one vast expanse -of seething water. ; & Land slips have oocurred. on the railway line between here and Eketahuna, and railway, trafficyr^fai that direction is suspended. Road traffic is also blocked.. -, .* j-». Featherston suffered the most^in the Wairarapa. On Monday it was a foot deep in the station building, and the Telegraph and Post OffiAjß, which is under the same roof, was thoroughly inundated. The Empire Hotel had quite a foot of water in the downs jfasß rooms, but the ourreqt was sub®, quently diverted* •-« *;