HEAVY FLOODS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8303, 5 December 1906, Page 5

HEAVY FLOODS.

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DON'S

The heavy rain whiub fell ou th» Tararua , Ranges (luring Monday night oauaed the rlvars in the Maaterton district to rise rapidly, and, flood the low-lying country. The Ruarnahanga River w*s wrobably higher than it baa heeu for years. At Te Ore Ore the river was running aoroas the road ou eaon si-ie of the bridge. There was a sheet of water extending along the road for abonr, Ave otiains beyond the bridge. Mr P. Carr's pronerty was badly flooded and his house was completely surrounded by water. At one particular spot between where the old Maori Church used to stand and Mr P. Carr'H bouse, the water was very deep, and nearly reaohed the axles of some oarta tb*t had been left there, fart of Mr G. Williams* property was also flooded.- The whole of the school reserve at Te Ore Ore was under water. A paddook on the Mastodon side of the Ruauiabanßa Bridge, belonging to Messrs Pin bey Uros., wa3 under water owing to a creek overflowing its banks. There was shout three feofc of water over the Akura Road near Hummer's Bridge. Part of Mr Martin Kerins" property was under water 'and he had a crop of turnips damaged. At ODaki Mr F. Bniok had a fine crop of rape considerably damaged by flood water. On Mr W. 13. Buiek's property a large area of low-lying land was under water, and a number of fences were damaged. Mr W. Cooper, of Te Ore Ore, had 22 acres of rapo destroyed through the Ruamahanga Fiver flooding his property. Mr Cooper also last four acres of hay. A telephone post in the vicinity was washed away, and the telephone wire broken. \ At the Mungaknta settlement Mr VV. M. Cole had eight acres of hay swept away by the Ruamahanga River, whioh flooded part of his property. Considerable damage was done in various pacts of the district by the flood-water tu crips and fencies, while it is considered that & numbar of stook on low-lying country have been drowned. The low-lying land between the Waipoua Bridges was completely inundated, i'hi Waipoua 3ivdr"rosa to a great height, and overflowed its banks in several places. The water rushed round the partly consnooted stop-bank near the Park and flooded the land, right up to the Park boundary, but no serious damage is reported. No rain fell batwaon Whakataki and Oastlepoint on Monday nißht. Several paddocks ai Matarawa and Dalefleld were under water yesterday. Ihe Waiugawa River was heavy in flood and several paddooks adjoining the river wero badly damaged. On the Masterton side of the bridge tua river flowed over the road »o a depth of about six feet. In consequence the Masterton botchers wore unable to reaob the abattoir for their day's supply of meat. The meat was evantually brought to Masterton by a ballast train in the afternoon. The flood water did not reach the abattoir. Both the railway and ordinary traffic bridges over the Walngawa River remained intact, fan- ■it is stated , that had the water risen 'another three feet some portions of the latter bridge would probubly have been swept away. As it or the protective works on the north side of the ' traffic bridgs were destroyed, and Mr Judd's fences adjoining the bridge on the Masterton side were swept away.

Old settlers say that they have never seen the Ruamahanga River at le Ore Ore aa high as it wm yesterday rooming. Heavy rain also fell in the Carterton distriofc. The Waiohino River, says the Carterton News, backed op the Maungatarera River, and tnis in turn overflowed its banks. A considerable area at Dalefleld was under water by the overflowing of the Maungatarera and Kaipatangata streams. The flood waters of the Waiohioe found temporary lodgment on the low-lying lauds at AhiakouKa, and the stop bank gave way on the western side, throning the flood waters on to the country at Matarawa., News from the Gladatono district, states that the Ruatnabanga River is running vary high. The Waidhine and Maunigatarera Rivers oommouoed to rise about midnight, and yesterday morning about 6 o'clock were triokling over the road on both sides or the Maori pah. By nine o'clock the > / water was about three feet deep oa , one side ol the biidgf*, while on the Ahiakouka side there was what appeared to Le a vast lake. ' Mr Beu Wadham attempted unsuccessfully to get through to Greytown at this time, and had to turn back. The Maoris were engaged driving their atook to higher lands, but later they had to look to their own dwellings which were threatened by the lapidly encroaching waters. ' The flood was highest at about' 10 o'olook, when Mr T. Loaob, from Maryborough, swam through ou horseback, leading Mr G. Aporo'a stallion Goldmine. The whole of Ahiaknoka, the swamp road, and near the Maori pah was a lake, the only dry patches being the two bridges and the old toll gate house, occupied by Mr Mo<3uinness. There was fully four feet of water on the swamp road. The water then commenced to subside, and there was only a depth of two feet when Mr E. Reading came through with his waggon and horses. Heavy rain has fallen in the Eketahuna district during the past couple of days, and all the rivers and streams are swollen. Over throe inche3 of rain fell on Sunday, and Monday.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Deo. 4. Heavy rain oaused ( n number ofwashouts along the Manawafcu Una to-day, with the result that traffic, was quite disorganised, aud with, the exception of the early express; there has been no through traffic.' The mail train from New Plymouth* did not pass south of Palmerston. The English mall on the express will be diverted to the Wairarapa line, arriving to-morrow. it is hoped that trains will he cunning, again to-moirow.