THE WEATHER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 70, 22 July 1915, Page 8

THE WEATHER.

BIG FLOODS IN HUTT VALLEY. DEATH BY DROWNING. Per Prkss Association. Wellington, .July l! 1. Since yesterday the Hutt River has, its a result of the continued heavy rain, risen a further four feet, making the height over eleven feet above summer level at the gorge., The, tower Hutt bridge has been washed away, and to-night the river is rising rapidly. To-day the whole of the Hutt Valley presents a unique spectacle, the land abutting the river being transformed into a veritable lake. In the area in the low-lying parts of the country there is scarcely a paddock that i i not under water, this being especially die case in the, upper readies above Si 1 verst ream, where practically the whole of the low country is under water. At some, points the houses are completely surrounded by water, this being especially noticeable at Waliaeevihe and the neighbouring districts. At WallacWille some of the roads are completely submerged, making entry by the usual way impossible, while it is not an unusual sight to see cattle grazing on small areas of land surrounded by water. ;

TJp tp the present no damage Of any, consequence as regards the river banks and protective works has been reported. One tragic incident, however, has occurred., A middle-aged pian named Christopher Xeilson was attempting in ford a stream at Mnngaroa with a horse, and cart shortly alter S o’clock this morning, when he was overpowered by the turbulent waters and swept down the river. Xelisoii was a farmer at Mnngaroa. He was about forty years of age, and a native of Denmark. The stream which Neilson attempted to cross is a small tributary of the Mnngaroa river, and in normal times is only a lew inches deep. , ,A .slip pear Mnngaroa delayed the Wairarapa train for nearly threg.honrs. ' Shipping; moveipents have been upset. so far as the smaller vessels are concerned.*, 1 •'