WAITOTARA.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 543, 8 July 1880, Page 3

WAITOTARA.

[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

Thc Wanganui-Waitotara Highway Board’s meeting lapsed on Monday, there not being a quorum of members present.

The steady downpour during Monday and that night caused one of the highest floods known on this river for many years. On Tuesday morning the river was running within a few feet of the top of its banks, and at twelve noon was within four feet of the floor of the railway bridge. Fortunately this bridge was far enough advanced to hold together, but it is evidently at least six feet too low, and should have crossed the river at right angle to the current. One more day’s rain would have brought the river up to the beams on which the sleepers rest. Drift timber would soon have accumulated, and the whole affair must have gone down the river. This may be its fate at some future period, although the structure has escaped this time.

The river bank road has been damaged to the extent of about twenty or thirty pounds, by land-slips and surface-water stripping off gravel, owing to the culvert openings being too confined to admit sufficient passage. The road on the south bank leading to Mr James Stent’s farm has been damaged to the extent of about £IOO. In several places it was o/erflowed to a depth of five feet. There are great portions washed away, and several heavy landslips.