HEAVY FLOOD IN MANAWATU

Shannon News, 3 July 1925, Page 2

HEAVY FLOOD IN MANAWATU

MUCH LOW-LYING COUNTRY INUNDATED.

Yesterday morning advice was received at Shannon that a heavy flood was coming down the Manawatu river. Settlers in the area likely to be affected by a flood were immediaibely notified by phone, where possible, with the result that stock was removed to the higher country. All day long settlers along the banks oi the Tokomaru, which was carrying a big Volume of water, were guarding the banks on their holdings, but at about 4 p.m. the water found its way through the bank on Mr Loughnaii’s property in the Kingston block, and all night the water flowed freely through the break, covering all the low-lying land in the vicinity. Earlier in the afternoon Mr W. Coley’s farm, which he had to vacate a few weeks ago during the last flood, was again under water, but fortunately he had removed all his stock. Owing to the quantity of water in the Tokomaru, the Kara stream banked up, overflowing its banks and flooding all the flat on the Kara road, several of the homes being surrounded by water. There was 2ft of water on the road during the afternoon; with the water still rising and by evening it was estimated there was 3ft ol water on the main road to Miranui.

This morning the flood in the Kara stream was receding fast, but tire water was still through the small bank of the Tokomaru. At the site of the Shannon-Foxton bridge the Manawatu river overflowed on the Shannon side, there being a sea of water extending right (up to tiie newly formed bank. Last evening the water was two feet from the top of the bank on the Moutoa side of tiie river.

This morning the Manawatu river had gone down slightly and it was reported from Ashhurst that the flood water had now emptied out of the Manawatu Gorge. It is reported that the flood broke through t-iie .bank at the comer near the store, at Moutoa.

Settlers have had an anxious time protecting their property and several bad to sit up all night to he in readiness to make a hurried exit, should the river rise any higher, Tlie portion of bank on Mr Richardson's property at Buckley, which gave way last flood and flooded the low lying country in that locality and which has just' - been repaired, was able to stand up to tlie present flood.