THE FLOOD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1725, 14 June 1917, Page 3

THE FLOOD

The recent heavy rains in the surrounding' district have been responsible for bringing - down a fairly heavy Hood in the Manawatu river. On Monday the river was particularly low, but it commenced to rise that night, and rose rapidly, the lower-lying lands along its banks being covered to a fair depth. The road from Shannon to the bridge was under water on Tuesday evening, and the water was still rising. The highest point was readied about midday yesterday, and the depth then remained stationary until last night. At Wliitaunui this morning a fall of about 15 inches was registered, so that the worst is n(if- over. Between Shannon and the bridge traffic was impossible, the depth of water on the road reaching five feet. The passengers and mails.on the mail car this morning had to be taken across the Hooded portion in a boat. In order to relievo (be pressure, Air Bryant’s manager decided to break the stop bank which runs along bis boundary near the road, and this has been responsible for lowering the depth of water on lac road. The Hood waters flowed over the stop bank and across the road near Walden’s Corner, but the water is now disappearing from this portion of the road. The rush of the Hood has carried away a good deal of the 1,-auk of the river in various places, and 1 lie Wliitaunui cutters’ cookhouse and accommodation houses which arc on the Shannon side of the river, have been undermined, and it is feared they may lie carried away. A number of , the tlax swamps arc Hooded, and as a result milling operations will be interfered with. RAILWAY LINK UNDER WATER. The railway line near Rangiotu is under water for a distance of about .1.00 yards, and passengers have to be trans-shipped from (rains at (his end to complete their journey in a special waiting at the other side of the water. The service was not interrupted until Tuesday afternoon, the 2.45 o’clock train from Foxton being unable to get through, and the passengers were taken over the Hooded area on a trolley. This method of locomotion was used yesterday, but this morning it was necessary to u.-e a boat, the depth of water being too great for the trolley to be used. The service is being run as usual, wiih the exception that two trains have to lie used instead of one. It is not known hi present when the train will be aide to run right through, as tlie damage done to the ballasting cannot bo estimated until the water, which is now subsiding, is all off. IN OTHER DARTS. In Hawke’- Ray the Hoods are very serious, Since Sunday night 0.04 inches of rain have fallen in Hastings in 59 hours. The Hust-ings-Xapicr train service is suspended, and mad traffic blocked. Very heavy losses of slock arc reported from Mcauco and Dokowlmi. The suddenness of the Hood prevented the removal of stock. Altogether. 100 persons were rescued by boats within a radius of 15 miles of Xapicr. Three farm work(rs in the Chesterliope district have not been t raced. At Oisbornc 7.39 inches of rain fell Once Sunday, whilst as much ns 14.H0 inches was recorded a I some country stations. Serious damage is reported, six bridges am! the supporting pipe which brings in tin' borough water supply being carried away. Telegraph communication is completely cut off.