RIVERS FLOODED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 9

RIVERS FLOODED

SWAMP ROAD UNDER WATER HEAVY RAIN EXPERIENCED. RUAMAHANGA RISING RAPIDLY. (“Times-Age” Special.) Heavy and incessant rain fell throughout the night with the result lhat all the rivers and creeks in the district are in a high state of flood. During yesterday afternoon heavy rain in the hills caused the Waiohine River to become a torrent and last evening the water was running bank. high. The rain continued during the night, causing rivers to overflow and a large tract of land in the Swamp Road locality is submerged to a considerable depth, so much so that dairy factory suppliers in this part of the district were compelled to go to the Dalefield factory with their milk by way of Matarawa instead of the main road. Dalefield, which is usually affected by the backing up of the Maungateriri stream with water from the Waiohine, this morning was not, flooded to any extent were of the opinion that if the rain did not moderate soon all the lowlying ground would be flooded. The Waiohine River is still rising and water is across the road at the Waiohine Bridge, but not enough to slop traffic. The low-lying land at Kokotau is flooded with surface water. At 9 o’clock this morning the river was not then over its banks, but the Ruamahanga was rising very fast and a big flood could be expected. A settler stated that it took about 7 hours for the flood water to reach that district and from the fact that the water was rising very fast in the river there was likely to be a big flood later in the day. All rivers and creeks in the district are carrying a great amount of water. No damage has so far been reported. Later advice this morning indicated that there were twelve to eighteen inches of water over the main highway near the Waiohine River. The water was up to the top of the fence on the Swamp Road side of the highway and was just lapping over the bridge decking. The water was continuing to rise. The Waingawa River was in high flood this morning, large logs being carried down like matchwood.