FLOODS IN SHANNON DISTRICT.

Shannon News, 28 October 1921, Page 3

FLOODS IN SHANNON DISTRICT.

CONSIDERABLE AREA UNDER WATER. STOP BANKS STAY FLOOD PRESSURE. . From the appearance of the Shannon district on Wednesday, it was evident there had been heavy rain in Hawke’s Bay, for the Manawatu River was up to Hood level, just a little to the north of Shannon lite river overflowed its hanks and spread ofer .the low-lying country between the town and the river, cutting on motor traffic, on .the Shannon-box ion road, this route only being negotiable then, by heavy horse vehicles. La-st Friday word was sent through from Woodville. that the luver was rising fast, and that rain was falling right through Hawke’s Bay. In the Horowhenua at the same time showery .conditions were being experienced, hut 'not of sufficient intensity to cause anything in the nature of a flood, and its effect had disappeared when the floodwaters from the east side of the Ruahines made their appearance in the lower reaches of the river. On Sunday and Monday there was a steady rise, and on Tuesday the lowlying areas to the north-west of Shan’'n on. were well covered. FIVE FEET ON FOXTON-SHANNON ROAD

By Tuesday evening there was between three and four l'eet of water on this road,' Stock owners had already taken the precaution to move their stock to higher ground, and although re-assuring messages were received from Woodville, it was between and 3 o’clock Wednesday morning that the height of the flood was reached. By that thei T e was five feet of water on the lowest level of the road between Shannon ' and the Manawatu bridge, and the flood reached about the same point in its approach 1 towards the town that marked the visitation of November last. At 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon' there was a fall of a foot, and as ■'fine weather has again set in it will only be a matter of a day or two before the road is v clear and the flood has disappeared. FLOOD BANKS HOLD. In the Makerua district the water backed up the creeks and spread up over some of the adjoining country, and at one point covered a small portion of the main north road. Further on opposite the Miranui miil—a place that is always affected in flood time—tlie road was clear of any sign of flood, and it-was apparent that the water had not gpt within feet of road level.' This was entirely due to the protection afforded by the stop-banks erected" by the flax-owners in this district, and it is evident from this experience that the banks are going to prove a> boon to this country as the bank 1 scheme extends and finally reaches completion. It was indeed a surprising and reassuring sight/to observe a,t, the rear of the ' Makerua railway station, and extending to the north and south, how the banks were holding tlie flood at bay. At this point the water lapped up the slope of the bank to a considerable height, whilst on the inner side the ground was clear of water and the gras? growing luxuriantly. It will be remembered that during the last flood the bank gave way in different places, but weak spots have been made good and'protected on the outer side, and, so far at least, are proving equal to the occasion. In or-~ dinary times of flood, the -water encroached right to the Makerua station, but this time any danger to the road and permanent way has been removed by the banks. It may be to prophesy, but in the work so far accomplished there appears the successful solution of dealing with the vast extent of fertile country in that lo cality which it is .intended to cut up and convert into farm holdings. What is intended as the future main irorth road will lie in a northerly direction through the Makerua swamp from a point near the railway station, and after the present experience it is not too much to hope that the projected scheme will be fully realised, and that future years will find the once famous flax swamp a prosperous farming settlement. GOOD WORK BY MAKERUA DRAINAGE BOARD. Some time ago the Makerua Drainage Board took over a length of drain half a mile long on the .east side of the main road at Makerua, from the Tlorowhenua County Council/ the latter body paying the Board a certain sum as a Anal contribution towards its work. The Board has cleaned and widened the drain right up to where it connects with the Kara creek. After passing under the railway line, the course of the creek has been improved by a cut put in by the Railway Department. The improvements by the .Board and the cut made by the Railway Department greatly facilitated the escape of the surplus water that was backed up-stream by the present

flooded condition of the river. It is the intention of the Board to improve the conditions there still further by straightening the course of the Kara creek alter leaving the railway cut, and running it along the boundary past Spiers’ mill to the river. This will be a splendid work, and have a good effect on this piece of country in future.