HEAVY FLOODS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 2

HEAVY FLOODS

EXPERIENCE IN HAWKE’S BAY. RIVERS NOW FALLING. Per Press Association. HASTINGS. Jan. 25. The timely cassation of the rain which fell torrentially from 2 o’clock this morning until eariy this afternoon prevented a disastrous flood in |tlie Hawke’s Bay district. Even now the damage which has already been caused is likely to be found to be extensive when a complete survey is made. The Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro Rivers were both 12 or 13 feet above normal, the latter overflowing its banks at Pakowhai and causing a considerable area of land to bo inundated to as high as the fenceposts in some instances. When the rain ceased in the early afternoon the rivers were at their peak, but towards nightfall they had gone down considerably.

During the last 24 hours in Hastings the rainfall has been in the vicinity of 10 inches, which breaks a 40-vear-old record. Outlying districts report as heavy or an even heavier rainfall. Electric power and telephone communications were interrupted in many country districts this morning, but during the day temporary repairs were affected in most eases. The flooded rivers have caused a number of roads to be blocked, while slips have accounted for other blockages, but the main road south is intact. LOSSES OF STOCK.

Two Maori women were marooned in a house at Pakowhai throughout the day until they were rescued by a police party in a boat during the late afternoon.

The losses of stock are likely he fairly heavy, but it will not be possible to give a reliable estimato until the flood waters have receded. There are instances of individual farmers having lost lots of two and three hundred, and it is likely that over the whole district the number will total 1000 or so. Most farmers took the precaution early of removing stock to higher country when it was evident flooding was likely to occur. A large number of sheep carcases are coming ashore on the seafront. One farmer in the Clive district lost 100 sheep and many more must have come from the high country. The outstanding feature of the visitation was the success of.the control of the Tutaekuri River, which is discharging an enormous quantity of water without danger to the district. A fault was discovered in the railway track and passengers and mails by the Wellington express were brought to Nflpier from Whakatu by bus. It is not anticipated that the Taupo road will be open till Friday and the Wairoa highway till Thursday.