MASTERTON FLOODED.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1918, Page 5

MASTERTON FLOODED.

HEAVY THUNDERSTORM. A FRIGHTFUL NIGHT RECORDED. RIVERS FLOOD THE STREETS. (Wellington Times.) Masterton, May 25. One of the roughest nights ever recorded in the history of Masterton was experienced last night. For three days there had been stormy weather with an unprecedented amount of thunder and lightning. Shortly after 5 p.m. last night the storm commenced to rage with increased violence, and up till 9 o'clock thunder peals were heard every few minutes. Heavy ram fell almost continuously, but the worst was to come. The wind increased in velocity to almost a hurricane, and the rain came down literally in lumps. The force of the wind threatened every minute to lift houses bodily froin their foundations. Prom about 11 pjn. till 1 pan. the most violent gale raged and the rain poured down, "while vivid flashes of lightning and terrific cannonades in the heavens produced a state of things very rarely if ever recorded in Masterton.

RIVERS OVERFLOW BANKS. The rivers in the district, which had been in a flooded state as the result of the rain during the previous days, rose rapidly as the result of the storm, and soon overflowed their banks. A vigorous blowing of tbe gasworks siren and the ringing of the firebells at 1 o'clock this morning indicated to sleepy householders that something untowards was occurring. There was need for the alarm, for the Waipona River had broken its banks in the region of Hope Street, and the water was pouring into the town. Various business people in the town were rung up on the telephone by tho Telegraph Office, and warned of the danger. The Waipona poured along Hope Street, which was a sea of turbulent water, and into Wrigley Street. Queen Street, right beyond the Post Office, was two or three feet under water. Residents in Hope Street had a very anxious time. The water commenced to flow into some of the houses, and preparations were made to remove household goods. The flood waters poured into a number of shops in upper Queen Street, and willing helpers assisted shopkeepers, whose premises were threatened by the water.

The Waipoua River also appears to have broken its banks near Mr. Daniell's mill. Part of ViHa Street was under water. The water also came down in the region of Albert Street, and premises in the latter street were flooded. The house of Mr. C. Bacon, at the Waipoua Bridge, had about four feet of water in it. As many of the household goods as possible were removed. Shortly after 2 o'clock the flood waters commenced to recede, and the worst was over. Tllp. wind RnntiniTml tn ,hWnr wiMi

Shortly after 2 o'clock the flood waters commenced to recede, and the worst was oyer. The wind continued to" Wow with violence, however, and heavy rain fett at intervals-

A NIGHT OF TERROR. An old settler stated that he never remembered such a violent thunderstorm. The continuous roll" of the thunder brought vividly to mind the conditions on the Western front. Each crash of thunder seemed louder than the preceding one, and the vivid flashes of lightning succeeded each other in great rapidity. Houses shook at every thunderclap, and to many it was a night of terror. Those living just to the north of ifasterton, under the hills, where the thunderstorm was at its height, spent a terrible night. The crashing of the tihimder, the roaring of the wind down the mountains, the noise made by the heavy rain beating on the iron roofs of bouses, and the almost continuous flaslhes of lightning ■was an experience that Masterton people are not likely to forget in a hurry. A TERRMC GAUI. As hour after hour passed and the violence of the storm increased, people wondered what the end would be. When the thunder ceased for a brief spell, it was succeeded by a terrific gale of wind, which tore iron roofs from sheds and destroyed boarded fences. By 3 o'clock the night of terror was over, bnt very few people in Masterton had any sleep. Over one and a-haU inches of water fell in a few hours.