BIG FLOOD IN THE MANAWATU

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3943, 16 May 1929, Page 2

BIG FLOOD IN THE MANAWATU

RAILWAY AND ROAD' COMMUNICATION BLOCKED. SPILL OVER AT RANGIOTU AND MOUTOA. STOCK REMOVED. WATER RECEDING. The recent heavy rains throughout the Manawatu and more particularly the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts, have swollen the ManaJwatu River to within an ace of being one of the biggest floods for some years. Last night with the river 14 foot above normal at Fitzheabert Bridge, the Manawatu commenced to spill over at Rangiotu and inundated the countryside. The road was blocked to traffic this morning and the train was unable to get through and returned to Poxton. The railway line is under water at Tiakitahuna and a wash-out has occurred in the permanent way. A number of Palmerston North residents visiting Poxton found it necessary to proceed home via Kongo tea last night but were not inconvenienced by finding the Rangiotu road blocked owing to . advices received by wireless and fro|m the local exchange. This morning saw the flood water making its way over the Moutoa. The Manawatu came over at S'miith’s and put two feet of water over the Foxtou-Sliannon Road and made its way down Poplar Road. The banks being down ,-at Tyrills and Springs and along the riverbank in the locality of the old Shannon Bridge and punt, the water soon made its way into the Moutoa. Most of the farmers removed their stoetk last night and. all are reported to be safe. Mr. Barber experienced some difficulty in removing his stock this morning owing to the water which was steadily hacking up.

Pailmers in the Tiakitahuna, Glen Oroua, Rangiotu and Poxton districts, took titnely warning and commenced removing stock from flood threatened lands yesterday and in the event of a recurrence of wet weather and a further rise in the river there is very little likelihood of any loss of stock in these localities. The Manawatu was running very high at the wharf yesterday and a good deal of debris was coming down. Fortunately the tides are on the ebb now and there is no wind to hank the river up.

The floods throughout the Hawke’s Bay and Wairairapa are reported to be the worst in 20 years.