BIG FLOOD EXPECTED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4040, 11 January 1930, Page 2

BIG FLOOD EXPECTED.

NEW BANK AT MOUTOA ’DOWN. LOWER MOUTOA AND W’HIROKINO KILLING. The Mann\v;i tit River, which has heen rising steadily for the last few days reached a point where it was a matter for grave concern for Moutoa residents yesterday. 'Conditions were made much worse by a howling- easterly gale which whipped the water into big' waves which smashed in to the newly erected Hood bank in front of Mr. Tyriil’s property at Moutoa in an alarming manner. A number of settlers kept v. ateh over Ihe haul; during the afternoon and night and did what they could to strengthen if where necessary but the erosion caused by the waves which were lifted right over the bank by the gale was too much for them and at 2.30 this moirning the river finally got the best of it and the bank gave way. Water commenced to pour into Ihe Moutoa and by morning the lower Moutoa and Whirokino were tilling rapidly. The water also found ils way in at Poplar and tin's morning the road was covered from Poplar corner to Wjhitaunui Mill. Mr. McDowell was able to get through, however, with the char-a-banc to Shannon and reported the water to be unite still and not of any great depth.

Partners removed their stock from the threatened area in ample time.

The Whirokino will probably suffer the most from tile Hood as (lie water usually takes a long time to get away from this part of the district. By to-morrow this area should he considerably inundated. A Hood at this time of the year, apart from being very unusual is a very serious mailer for Porcten and district. Tin Hnxtnills have jit-/ got under way again after the ho-ii-h'< ;i I, ri now \\ df !; :T t at.*’ tr ad operation- ~s it trill ii.• ■ otmturn- hei ore the 'Wtinij's will he dry t iiougit tit permit cntiiim. aguiu. At Rangiotn the water is nor yet over the road hut the highway tit Rangilanc is covered. The chnr-u-haue got through this morning, but the water was up to the running hoard in places. The river was reported to he still rising at this locality.

RIVER FALLING. The latest report to hand at the tune of going to press was to the effect that the river was 10ft. 2in. above normal at Fit/Jumbert Bridge, Palmerston .North, having dropped 2ft. (Jin. since last night. Mr. .1. Marlin (loeal stalionmastcr) reports the railway line all clear between Pox ton and Palmerston .North and at Rangiotn it is not thought that the line will he blocked as a result of this flood.