THE WEATHER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1915, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

isn; FLOODS IX HUTT VAI.I.KY. ✓ COUNTRY UNDER WATKR. A MAX DROWNKD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. Since yesterday the Butt liver has, as a result of the continued heavy rain, risen a further four feet, making this height ever eleven feet above summer level at the gorge. 'Die Lower Hult bridge has been washed away, and tonight the river is rising rapidly. To-day the whole of the Hutt Valley presents ft mii(|re spectacle, the land abutting this I river being transformed into a veritable lake. In the area in the low-lying parts of the country there is scarcely a paddock that is not under water, this being especially the ease ;.i the upper reaches above Silvcrstreitm, where practically the whole of the low country is under water. At some points the houses ara completely surrounded by water, this being specially noticeable at Wallaceville and the neighboring districts. At Wallaeeville 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. ' 1 Up to the present no damage of any consequence as regards the river banks 1 and protective work 9 has been reported. One tragic incident, however, has occur- * red. A middle-aged man named Christopher Neilson was attempting to ford a stream at Mungaroa with a. horse anil cart shortly after 8 o'clock this morning, when he was overpowered by the turbulent waters and swept down the river. Neilson was a farmer at Mungaroa. He was about forty years of age and a ' native of Denmark. The stream whieft Neilson attempted to cross is a small tributary of the Mungaroa river, and in normal times is only a few inches deep. A slip near Mungaroa delayed tiie Wairarapa train for nearly three hours. Shipping movements have been upset . fio far as the smaller vessels are con- ' ccrned.