EXPERIENCE AT RANGITANE

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

EXPERIENCE AT RANGITANE

NO APPREHENSION FELTAt 2 p.m. yesterday the Manawatu River was running very high at Rangitane, but no apprehension was felt because the danger point there, measured by the level of the gauge at the Fitzherbert bridge, is 14ft 9in. On one occasion the waters broke their banks at Rangitane at 15ft 3in and on another at 15ft. The level at Palmerston North at 2 p.m., yesterday, was 10ft Gin. At 3 p.m. it was unchanged. Consequent on the completion of the Hamilton’s Line banking, .the course of any flood that may occur in the Tiakitahuna-Half Crown Bend area is now expected to be quite different from that of former years. In previous times the river overspread its banks in the Hamilton’s Line vicinity and made toward the Tiakitaliuna railway station, then veering toward the Half Crown Bend, steadily working out to the lower levels past Rangitane. Now tho waters in time of flood will be held by the banking until they reach Rangitane, then having to work in an upstream direction, although outside the confines of the river bed, in the direction of the Half Crown Bend.

Yesterday between 6 and 9 o’clock there was a rise of several feet in the height of the water at Rangitane, corresponding with a sudden rise in Palmerston North on Monday. At the earlier hour a beach at the water’s edge was visible; at the latter time the waters had covered it for an appreciable depth and were lapping their way along the bank. So far there has been no suggestion of stock being shifted at Rangitane, and residents there consider themselves to be at the spearhead of any possible advance by the river in that area on to farming land.

The waters are now receding.