STORM DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1938, Page 6

STORM DAMAGE

POSITION IN WAIRARAPA AREA SLIPS AND WASH-OUT ON MANY ROADS A survey of the Wairarapa district shows that although many roads were damaged in the recent storm, the areas most affected were those in the Castlepoint, Eketahuna and Akitio counties. Roads in the Castlepoint County seem to have suffered more severely than others in the district. Many are still in a badly damaged condition. The road between Tinui and Castlepoint is open for light traffic only. The Whakatahi Stream ford was washed out and yesterday morning one of Messrs Fly and Savage’s service cars, while an attempt was being made to cross the stream, sank in the silt in the stream bed. The car was almost across when one of the rear wheels became embedded in the silt. Unfortunately, the water rose after the mishap, and flowed over the engine before the car could be extricated. The car had to be towed to Masterton, where the engine is being dismantled for cleaning. Masterton County escaped lightly. A temporary bridge at the Ngahape Road, put across the stream in place of the bridge washed away last February, was also washed away. Arrangements have been made to construct another temporary structure and •this should be completed in two or three days’ time. Minor slips and washouts were reported on other roads and the Masterton County portion of the Alfredton-Tinui Road is blocked with slips, in common with the Eketahuna and Castlepoint country’s portions.

Only two roads in the Mauriceville County were affected to any serious degree. A bad washout occurred on the North Mauriceville Road, half of the highway slipping away, but it is still open to traffic. A heavy slip and a washout are reported on the Mangaranga road but traffic is able to get through. The county escaped very lightly. The Tiraumea-Alfredton area of the Eketahuna county suffered considerable damage in the recent storm. Slips and washouts occurred on many roads, but all are now open for traffic except Saunders Road and Piri Road. The damage to roads throughout the county is considerable and probably exceeds in the aggregate that suffered in the storm about two years ago. All roads in the Akitio County were damaged by slips and washouts, the estimated cost of repairs being £450 on main highways and £l5OO on county roads. Although the main, highways have been re-opened many of the back county roads are still blocked. Every available man is engaged in reopening the roads. It is expected that most roads will be opened next week. ■ Four days of incessant rain were experienced in the district, which also suffered damage of a somewhat similar nature two years ago.