RIVERS IN FLOOD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 138, 11 May 1940, Page 6

RIVERS IN FLOOD

MANAWATU AND OROUA. SOME STOCK REMOVED. Arising from the continued _ A 1 *® heavy lads of rain over the 48 ho preceding last night, both the Man watu and Oroua Rivers reached no levels, but not, a 6 far a 6 i 6 known, high enough to cause appreciable damage. The Oroua River reached a. peaK level this morning about 2 o’clock, but was beginning tcs fall at 9 a. in. In tlie Manawatu River the water did not reach a corresponding height, although a great volume of water has flowed therein in the last three days. This morning at 11 o’clock the height of the Manawatu River was 6till 10ft 6in, the river then being on The fall from a peak height at 10 o clock last night of lift Gin. . For the settlers on the banks of the Oroua River, at least in the lower reaches, an anxious situation was obviated by the fact that- the Manawatu River was not at a height sumcient to back up the Oroua River, last night. With a good outlet, the Oroua was clearing itself well and the only damage caused was through slipping of the banks.

However, on Mr M. Say well’s property, immediately above Rangiotu, on the Main Drain Road, there was an areia of between 30 and 40 acres of land under water. This came from a slip in the banking of the Oroua River. It was stated that further slips were possible in the higher reaches of the river, but it was not expected that these would be extensive. Stock were shifted, as a precautionary measure, on a number of farms on the banks of the Oroua River yesterday. - In order to make an inspection of. possible danger points in the Shannon, Buckley and Moutoa areas, Mr H. R. Earquliar, engineer .of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board, was engaged in these districts this morning.. With much better weather conditions to-day river conditions steadily improved, and at 1 p.m. the height of the Manawatu River was 10ft at the Fitzherbert Bridge. STATE OF THE ROADS. The Manawatu Automobile Association issued the following report to-day concerning the state ot roads: The W anganui-Itaetihi (Parapara) Road is now open for normal traffic, although it is greasy in places. The alternative route via Pipiriki is still closed. The Stratford-Ohura (Tangarakau)' Road is still closed and is likely to remain so for some time yet. The Manawatu Gorge is open.

All other arterial roads in the, North Island are open and in reasonably good condition.