WIDESPREAD FLOORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1939, Page 6

WIDESPREAD FLOORS

MANAWATU RIVER BREAKS BANKS EXTENSIVE AREA INUNDATED I NEAR SHANNON. ANXIOUS TIME FOR FARMERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., August 17. Continuous heavy rain, which has fallen in the Manawatu. Rangitikei, and southern Hawke’s Bay areas during the last 2-’ ours. has caused a serious rise in all rivers and streams., which lias resulted in the flooding of large areas of farm lands particularly in the Buckley district, near Shannon, the Kopane district. near Rongotea. and the Kairanga district. At 8 o'clock tonight nearly 2.009 acres in the Buckley district wore covered to an average depth of three to four feet, and the depth of water in the Kopane area ranged from one to two feet near Rongotea to much greater depths lower down toward Rangiotu. The Manawatu River, at 9 o’clock tonight showed a rise 06 14 feet 9 inches, and at 11 o'clock was reported to be steady at that level. Seen from the higher ground around Shannon late this afternoon, the whole Buckley area almost resembled a lake. As. far as the eye could see in some directions there was nothing but water, broken occasionally by a clump of trees or a hillock. The whole countryside between Linton and Shannon particularly was carrying an enormous quantity of surface water, and all deep dips were completely filled converted into lagoons. Mr J. Hill. Kopane. said the flood was the most serious in more than 40 years. Settlers had been removing stock from paddock to paddock. Mr J. Collis, Kairanga, said the flood was a record one. and the water tonight was covering many hundreds of acres in the Kairanga district. There are indications that the peak of the flood in the Oroua River was reached about 9 o’clock tonight.* WATER IN MAIN STREET POSITION AT MARTON. MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) MARTON, August 17. Flooding occurred in Marton and. the surrounding district this afternoon after two inches of rain in 24 hours. The Tutaenui stream overflowed a wide area along its course. Water rose in the town to shop doorsteps at. the peak, but slowly receded. It is still raining this evening, however, and danger of further flooding is not past. A big recruiting display had to be abandoned because the hall was surrounded by water more than a foot deep. Nearly all back-country roads are blocked with slips. The main highway to Rata is impassable because of floodwater. Heavy mortality is feared among lambs. —- WANGANUI AREA COMMUNICATIONS DISORGANISED TEMPORARY BRIDGE PARTLY DEMOLISHED (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI. August 17. After three days’ rain the deluge was intensified today, with the result that the Wanganui countryside is at present, lying largely under water. Every creek and river on the coast is running at flood level, and the Wanganui River is reported tonight to be 25 feet above the Pipiriki wharf. Several slips are reported, and at present Pipiriki is isolated because of slips and washouts on the River Road. Gangs of Public Works men are engaged in clearing them. It is hoped to establish road communication with Pipiriki tomorrow.

A slip on the Wangaehu Hill across the railway line caused a mail train, which left Wanganui at 12 o'clock for Wellington, to be delayed about an hour at Fordell. A temporary bridge, which was being constructed over the* Wangaehu River for the Public Works Department on the Denlair deviation was partly washed away this morning. LIMITED DELAYED NEARLY TEN HOURS LATE. SLIPS AND WASHOUTS ON LINE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Almost 24 hours after leaving Auckland on Wednesday night, the Limited express, with 10 cars and about 300 passengers, reached Wellington at 7.10 o'clock last evening, 9 hours 40 minutes behind schedule. Slips and washouts on the Main Trunk line south of Taihape caused a series of delays, and the express was 9 hours 12 minutes late leaving Marton. The first express from Auckland was delayed also. It arrived at Wellington at 8.20 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. as scheduled. TRAINS HELD UP LINE NEAR SHANNON UNDER WATER. SERIOUS DELAYS OCCASIONED. WELLINGTON. This Day. The Railway:: Dc-p:irttnr.-nl reported this morning that the line between Shannon and Kopularoa is under water in five or six places and that it is impossible for trains Io get through. Arrangements arc being made, as far as possible. Io tranship passengers both ways, but difficulty is expected in providing sufficient rolling stock to meet the situation. The inspector of Permanent Way was hopeful early this morning of clearing the line by midday, but this is by no means cerlam. The Napier express was despatched from Wellington this morning by way I of the Wairarapa. Other outward expresses were sent away' approximately on time, but passengers will be late in reaching their destinations. It was reported in Wellington this morning! that a big slip lias occurred al Mata-1 roa, north of Taihape, and it is stated that there is a possibility that the Auckland expresses will have to be j diverted through Taranaki. j

WORST KNOWN FLOODS

• PEAK NOT YET REACHED. FOUR FAMILIES VACATE HOMES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) LEVIN. This Day. The floods are the worst in the history of this district. Thousands of acres of farmland in the Buckley area near Shannon have been inundated. The waters of the Manawatu River yesterday poured through a breach in the banking system, estimated to be a chain and a half wide. At seven a.m. there was only a trickle over the bank of the river, but with water 35 feet deep exerting a tremendous force, and the bank crumbling away with every rise in the level of the water, the river broke its banks properly two hours later. About a thousand head of daily cows had to be taken to higher ground, before many hours had passed and the properties of a number of settlers were lost to view beneath a sea of muddy water. Four families were compelled to vacate their homes, and .in one house the water was three feet deep. Two Chinese market gardeners were marooned on the banks of the river and a party set out this morning in boats' to rescue them. The locality where the break occurred is about a mile from the AucklandWellington railway line, and in between is a sea of water from the swollen Manawatu River.

Train passengers are being taken from Levin to Shannon in railway buses and vice versa. The schedule is greatly' disorganised as a result. The flood waters are still rising. It is feared that the worst had not been reached and when the water higher up reaches the area, the position will be greatly accentuated. GORGE ROAD PASSABLE BUT GREAT CARE NEEDED. FLOOD WATERS GOING DOWN'. PALMERSTON N„ This Day. Sufficient debris has been cleared away at the slip in the Manawatu Gorge to enable motorists to pass but much earc is needed. The track steadily is being improved. The Pahiatua Hill Road, which is an alternative rqute to the Gorge is stiff blocked. The Feilding-Awahuri route is open. Water is receding on most other roads where inundation occurred. The weather is improving. The Manawatu River is falling but the plight of settlers in the lower areas is a distressing one. Thousands of acres are still covered in parts of the district. The Kopane-Rangiotu area is cut off from road transport. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ROADS IN WANGANUI DISTRICT SUFFER. LIKELY TO BE BLOCKED FOR SOME DAYS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI. This Day. Reports from the surrounding district show that damage by slips and washouts as the result of the recent heavy rains is very extensive. The Wanganui River Road will be blocked and it will be some days before trat'-I fie is resumed. There are many slips' on the Para Para Highway and it is! not expected that the road will be' cleared for weekend traffic. Three motor lorries are isolated by slips at different parts of the Mangamahu Road, which is blocked, and telephone com-! munication is interrupted. It will probably be some days before the road is cleared. The Wanganui and Turakina rivers are in high flood and the Waitotara Valley Road is blocked.