TORRENTIAL RAINS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10241, 18 May 1911, Page 5

TORRENTIAL RAINS.

POVERTY BAY RIVERS RISING

SERIOUS FLOODS THREATENED. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST LOSS OF STOCK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Last Night. Just over a year ago Gisborne and the surrounding district suffered severe ly from the most disastrous flood ever experienced in this portion of the East Coast, and to-night, unfortunately, there is every prospect of a repetition of the catastrophy. Rain has been falling steadily since early ytesterday without intermission, and at times with torrential force, with the result that the creeks and rivers in the distinct are in a state of high flood.

The Wairoa river is the one which threatens danger to the Poverty Bay flats, and at the danger point at Waerengaahika, where it burst its banks last year, the river is within six feet of the top of the bank, and is rising rapidly. Settlers on the flats, warned by last year's experiences, when stock was lost in great numl)ers, aro engaged moving their stock to their back paddocks, out of the reach of the'flood waters. The rain shows no sign? of abating, and the outlook to-night is indeed gloomy.

It is- almost certain that if the rain does not stop within the next few hour, l ' dire consequences will result. Much uneasiness is felt by the settlers and townspeople alike, who fear the river may break over before midnight, as at about 11 o'clock the tide will be full, and the ,Wairoa is a tidal river.

It is not exoected, however, that much loss of stock will result, but otherwise the damage by the flood is expected to be considerable in th? town.

In Gisborne itself, the streets are running with water like mill races. Many of the lower-lying portions are inundated, and much damage has been done to the sewage works in course of construction.

The rain lias been accompanied by a heavy south-easterly gale. Tremendous seas are reported from all along the coast. The Victoria, from Auckland,' which passed the East Cape at 1.30. had not nut in an appearance at 9.30. and it is thought probable that she either put to sea for the night, or considering this port is unworkable, has gone "on to Napier.