PHENOMENAL RAIN STORM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2195, 28 October 1920, Page 2

PHENOMENAL RAIN STORM.

FLOODS, AND WASH-OFTS. The recent rain storm was the most continuous experienced in this district, in fact, throughout the northern portion of the Wellington Province, since 1002, when (he Hood waters of the Manawatn rose above the wharf. Thousands of acres of land for miles around in all directions are covered with water. Creeks , and drains have boon converted into torrents, while the Manawatn .fiver from the Woodville side of the Gorge to the sea has been in high flood with the overflow from the creeks and rivers which drain into it. Huge trees, fencing material and dead stock have been carried on the crest of the waters. Between Ekelahuna and Pahiatua hundreds of acres are under water, and the road in places is only passable at considerable risk to travellers. On some farms milking sheds are to ho seen surrounded by water, arpd milking operations have been carried out under great difficulties. Dairy farmers have bad a trying lime gelling tlieiv stock to any available high land. Travelling along, it was a common sight in the Forty-Mile Bush, district to see cows, sheep, rabbits and. hares isolated on small islets. Many farmers have been cut off from traffic. Owing to numerous slips on the railway, traffic lias been suspended, and travellers pul to considerable inconvenience. On Tuesday pur representative got, as far as Woodville from Pahiatua, by rail, but owing to slips in the Gorge was unable to continue 1 he Journey. The rain was teeming down in (ho • Gorge, and passengers had to wait fur horn s‘until gangs of workmen cleared the line. On the opposite side of the. Gorge the road was blocked by slips. The railway gangs worked like irojans and cleared the line Ihroiigh the Gorge yesterday. Owing lit the flood waters at Rangi-(-111, railway traffic between Palmerston and Foxton was suspended, and considerable damage was done to the permanent: way at this locality. The Sandon-Foxton arterial road in places was „ inundated —a most unusual occurrence, making motoring very risky. Water could be seen in all directions along this route, like great lakes. Traffic between Foxton and Shannon was impossible in the Moufoa district, and it was feared that the Shannon bridge would he swept away, as a. dangerous erosion had sol in on the Shannon .side of the stmetnre. It is feared that Iho bridge is now unsafe for traffic. Stop banks were washed away in this locality, and the countryside, looking from Shan- . non towards Monica, was one sheet: of .water. Damage to the extent of thousands of pounds has been done throughout the vast district which the Manawatn drains. To-day there are indications that the water is receding, but if will bo several days before the roads to Shannon and Levin, and Foxton to Palmerston via Rangiotu will bo open to traffic. Until the flood water recedes from the railway line at Rangiotn it will not ho possible to ascertain the damage done to the permanent way there, but it is hoped that* railway traffic will be resumed by Monday at latent. Taihape, Oiober 2(1. Heavy rain yesterday and to-day • caused some small slips to conic down on the railway between Mangaweka and Taihape. One slip north of Mangaweka completely blocked the line for about ten hours, but it has now been cleared. The night express from Auckland left, here eight- hours late, and the ordinary express from Auckland three hours laic. The night express from Wellington was held up aj Mangaweka for six hours. The slips have been cleared and traffic resumed.