FLOOD IN THE MANAWATU.

Shannon News, 15 May 1923, Page 2

FLOOD IN THE MANAWATU.

, The recent flood in the Manawatu caused a great deal of anxiety to settlers in the Moutoa district reports the Foxton “Herald.” Fortunately the flood waters did not reach the magnitude of an “old man flood,” but it 1 gave .some indication of the effect of ! the banking on the opposite side of 1 the river. Stock was removed to higher ground from threatened low-lying areas.

One set ler, whose house is near the bank at Moutoa, kept an all night vigil for feat the water rose above the bank, in which case it would rush into a ]i isin Which would flood a large area io a depth of several feet in the vicinjiv of the school and endanger several

residences. A large volume of water has found its way into the Moutoa basin extending towards the Whirokino bridge. Mr W. Ross’s farm at the Poplar Mill suffered most. Fortunately the stock, a valuable Jersey herd, were removed to a! place of safety. The| water broke through the new stop bank and flooded the farm to a depth of from 4ft to sft, The breach in the hank was about two chains. This piece of land has not previously been affected by flood waters. The occupants of the farm house had a trying time, and left the dwelling for a. shed oil .higher groutnd ns the flood waters invaded the

house. On Ihe opposite side of the river at the mill, the water spilled over the bank and invaded the mill office io a depth of several inches. Tlie banking scheme now being carried out on the eastern or Makerun side of the river is causing a good deal of anxiety to settlers on the opposite side and the present flood has given some indication of what will happen, when, the scheme is completed. The big banking scheme will extend I- , r a disiancp. of 24 miles along the c urse of the river on the eastern side from Linton to Shannon. The banking ins alreadv been completed to a disof 2d miles. The average height of the bank is 9ft with a base of some I'.irt. and is constructed about two chains from the river edge. 'Phis distance provides a safeguard from erosion At Mr Ross’s farm at the Poplar the hanking was done at the waters edge and it was here that Ihe erosion took place. The object of the formation of the Manawatu-Orouia Drainage Board is to deal in a comprehensive way with the •whole problem of river protection and Ibe scheme, now being prepared by the engineer, is awaited with interest, by settlers and local bodies concerned.