The Floods.

Manawatu Herald, 22 April 1897, Page 3

The Floods.

The flood we have experienced in this district has not done the damage locally that it was possible and probable it would have done owing to the very unexpected manner it came down. It was on Friday morning that Mr Langdon passed the Manawatu River and it was then at a very low point. Certain precautions are supposed to be in force so that the manage? of the Motoa Estate may be forewarned of coming floods, but these precautions were not observed by some person answerable for its performance. Mr Langdon has a dread of floods, and he was moved to ride up to Motoa at three o'clock to ccc whether the rain we had had locally had affected it. His surprise can be judged when he found the water was within three feet of the top of the bank. He galloped back to the homestead and all hands, with extra help, were out mustering all night and until an early hour on Saturday morning. Owing to these decisive steps being taken the stock were got safely out of reach of the flood. A telegram, one of the precautions referred to, reached Poxton at 7 p.m. on Friday evening, and at that hour the water was pouring over the river bank into the estate. Of course nothing can be seen yet awhile of the damage done to the property, but the loss of feed for some time will extend over thousands of acres.

On Monday morning a 9 Mr , Stansell was taking bis passengers by boat to the ferry be heard a cooey from Mr 0. Adin's house, and after j disembarking his cargo rowed over' and found that Mrs Adin and her family had passed the night on a table, there having been two feet of water in the house. Mr Stansell not only brought them into Foxton, but found them a place wherein to lay their heads. An instance of the extent of the waters can be guaged by the fact that Mr Barnum, the Shannon mailman, brought the mail from the Shannon railway station to a point tery near the Motoa homestead, by boat, having taken a bee lino over the submerged fences. He there borrowed a buggy and got his to Foxton. The damage done by the floods up the coast and in Hawke's Bay is most distressing. ' hawke's bat. The bridges at Omahu and Bedoliffe have been washed away and Clive is almost completely submerged. Two lives are known to be lost, and others almost certain. At Meanee, which is almost unapproachable, the effect of the floods mast be disastrous in the extreme. Two rescue boats, containing five I men each, which left for Farndon, have not since been heard of, and it ii feared that they have been swept *to sea and lost. In the boats were Sergeant O'Donovan and Constable Stephenson (of the police), Captain McArtney, publican, Joseph Brierley Fred Cassin, Frebble, Rose, Hobden, Ansell and Chambers. Messrs Bradber and Coughlin are also reported to be drowned. The damage to the railway line by washouts, &c, is very extensive, and it will be a couple of months before it is repaired. Meanwhile the headquarters of the stationmaster will be removed to Hastings. Between Farndon and Tamoana the Awatoto river replaoes the railway line. All the suburban small farmers are practically ruined. Between Petane and Tarawera several bridges have beec wasked away. At 6 p.m. on Friday the river Ngaruroro burst its banks at Boys' Hill, flooding the districts surrounding, and about 7 p.m. the water was in evidence at Hastings, and at 8 several families were calling for Assistance. Bescue parties were formed, which were kept busy through the night and through the next day rescuing families in boats from the houses. The residents in the low-lying district&are in a terrible plight. Tfewe ia a great loss of ptoelr.

Hastings in parts was 10 feet under water. From Havelock to Pakip&ki it was a mass of water, and the Te Aute road is impassable. The settlers will lose terribly. The bridge over the old Ngaruroro river at Havelock is strained, and tons of debris are piled against its south side. Glive was all under water. In the lower parts of the township only the tops of a few of the houses were visible, and several have been washed away. Tomoana was a sheet of water. There was 4fo on the bridge. Cunningham, one of the shepherds at Chesterhope, was drowned. The natives lefc the Omahu pah, and their whares have been washed away. Euormous damage has been done to the crops, and fences. The residents of Fernhill had to , leave their houses. The hotel is the only place out of water. Two Maoris were seen to be washed off their horses while attempting to cross the river, and have not been seen since. The Harbour • Board's steamer J.D.O. is searching for the bodies, but so far no result is to hand. Meanee was under water, and loss of life is reported there, but there are no particulars. There are thousands of pounds' worth of damage to stock, &c, at Marekakaho, the property of Mr R* D. McLean, M.H.R., and houses overturned, but no loss of life is reported up to the time of writing. Pakekura was several feet under water. The house of Mr Baker was washed out to sea. The loss of stock throughout the district is incalculable. Mr J. N. Williams lost 700 sheep ; T. Tanner, Riveralea, 1000 ; Nelson Brother?, 18,000. Messrs T. Crosse and W. Bridgraan are heavy loser*. It is feared the loss of life will be considerable. It would be more only that Friday night was bright and moonlight. Reports from Wairoa district show that there has been a loss of stock and bridges have been sWept away. Great damage has been done to the railway bridges at Taltapau and Waipawa. PALMERSTON. About a chain of the Fitzherberfc bridge was washed away, and as this carried the waterpipes Palmerston will be without the supply until a temporary means for carrying the pipes has been erected. Several spans of the Kakariki bridge have been washed away, also the approaches to- the bridge over the Oroua river, between Aorangi and Feilding railway stations. The Standard reports that the men working at Wolfe's camp at Fitzherbert, and Poole and Johnston's camp at Jackeytown, had very narrow escapes for their lives. At the former camp the water was several feet in the tents before the men realised their danger, and they had to wade in water up to their necks to get out, several not having time to put any clothes on. Both the men and their employer wtll suffer heavy losses.

Mr F. L. Jackson, the well known auctioneer, had a narrow eßcape from drowning on Friday evening. He was proceeding to his farm at Pohangina, and while crossing one the creeks near the river was washed off his horse down stream. Luckily two or three people witnessed the accident and pluckily rescued Mr Jackson, not much worse for his audden immersion. The horse was afterwards recovered. BANGITIKEI The flood in the Kangitikei is said to have been nearly ten feet higlrer than any other flood in that river. Settlers in the Lower Bangitikei had several feet of water in their houses. The bridge across the Eangitikai river at Bulls was completely washed away at about 12 o'clock last Friday night, not a stick being left. The story of the troubles of Mr Percy Daniell at Bangitikei is a sad one, as he wa3 away, and his wife and family had only the assistance of a hand. They had a boat tied to the verandah posts, bat when the