VAST SHEET OF WATER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1939, Page 8

VAST SHEET OF WATER

FLOODS IN MANAWATU AREA MORE SERIOUS FIFTEEN THOUSAND ACRES INUNDATED. MANY SETTLERS FLEE FROM HOMES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.. August 18. The flood situation in the lower reaches of the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers became much worse during the night and early this morning, and today fully 15.000 acres of farm lands, possibly more, were covered with water to a depth varying from one foot to 10 feet. The most acinous flooding has occurred in Buckley, Moutoa. Koputaroa. Lockwood and Lower Kairanga districts, and practically the whole area from Shannon to the Whirokino overhead bridge was a vast sheet of water. Tonight the level of (lie Manawatu River at Fitzherbert Bridge had dropped to 10 feet, and the position is expected to become much easier by tomorrow.

Indications tonight arc that losses o.f live stock, particularly lambs, in the Kcpano. Lower Kairanga. and Lockwood districts will be serious. In addition to that, loss of pasture, through the deposit of silt, which will result from the flood, will also be very serious.

The flood in the Buckley district is considered the worst in history of white settlement. In some places where a flood has never been known to reach before water was lying two feet deep. With the Manawatu River showing a rise of 14 feet nine inches last night, expectations that flood conditions in the lower reaches of the river would become much worse early this morning were unfortunately fully realised. Not only did an increasing volume of water rush through the breach in the Manawatu River bank opposite Spring's Bend, but it overflowed at Smith's Bank, lower down the river, and early this morning also broke through near the bridge on the Shannon-Foxton road. The result was that the whole Moutoa and Koputaroa areas were flooded and the depth of the waters in th already badly flooded Buckley area was considerably increased. In the meantime conditions along the lower reaches of the Oroua River also became much worse, and. through water flowing over or breaking through banks at a number of places, floods in a large area of farm lands in Lockwood and Lower Kairanga areas greatly increased. Water from the Oroua River backed up across the Tilohtii Basin area, and about midnight last night started to flow across the Fokton line toward the Manawatu River. The effect of that was to block the main highway to Rangiotu. A large volume of water, two feet deep in sotne places, is still running over the road between Hamilton’s line and Rahgitanc. Between Rangitahe and Rangitoti there was a depth of four feet. The water tonight, however, is beginning to subside. With the sharp rise in the flood early this morning, several settlers in Moutoa, Buckley and other areas had to leave their homesteads, in some cases hurriedly, because of invasion by water. A few managed to got away in cars, others on horseback, while others had to bo rescued by boat. Ono of the most serious Aspects of the flood is that because of the already waterlogged -condition of the country side, flood waters are likely to lie for possibly a month in some areas, which will deprive farmers still further of much-needed pasture. When the river broke through into the Moutoa area this morning several settlers had to leave their homes hurriedly.

RAILWAY SERVICES MANY TRAINS USE WAIRARAPA LINE. TRANSHIPMENT OF PASSENGERS AT SHANNON. WELLINGTON, This Day. Serious flooding between Koputaroa and Shannon, on the Manawatu line, and a major slip which came dowiT near Mataroa. a few miles north of Taihape. on the Main Trunk, caused further dislocation of railway traffic yesterday. The trouble followed abnormally heavy rain, and in parts of the low-lying country between Koputaroa and Shannon the permanent way was covered by several feet of water. All express and passenger trains on the Manawatu and Main Trunk were late arriving at Wellington yesterday, but outward trains left on time. No trains could pass the affected area, and passengers and mails were transhipped by road transport between Levin and and Shannon. This added about an hour to the-running time of each train. The Wcllingto-Napier express was dispatched via the Wairarapa, a deviation which added about an hour and a half on to the journey to Hawke’s Bay. No trouble occurred in the Manawatu Gorge area, and a number of freight trains between Wellington and Palmerston North went via the Wairarapa line. The railcar to New Plymouth scheduled to leave Wellington at 5.13 p.m. also travelled via the Wairarapa. The southbound Napier express reached Wellington at 7.30 p.m. attached to the Masterton train.

ROADS BLOCKED FLOOD WATERS AND SLIPS. WELLINGTON DISTRICT REPORT. WELLINGTON, This Day. It was reported last night by the Wellington Automobile Association that the main road from Himatangi to Palmerston North was blocked by flood water, which was at a high level at Rangiotu and that it was necessary for traffic for Palmerston North to go through Shannon. Just north of Shannon there was a few inches of water, but not sufl'icient to hold up traffic. Motorists were advised by the association to reduce speed when going through il. however. Any trouble that motorists had experienced where there was water was the result of attempting to negotiate the flooded patches at too high a speed. The Wanganui-Pipiriki and the Wanganui-Raetihi roads were both blocked by slips and it was not expected that cither would be clear before Tuesday.

Motorists on the Main Trunk road between Waiouru and Hikitahi had experienced considerable difficulty, and the latest report was to the effect that the road was unfit for traffic, but might

be open by Monday if the weather remained fine. The Foxon-Shannon road was closed because of flooding and the Akatarawa was not known when it would be open road was also blocked by a slip. It to traffic. WATER IN HOUSES STOCK TAKE REFUGE ON HIGH GROUND. RAIL COMMUNICATION STILL SUSPENDED. LEVIN, This Day. Yesterday in the Buckley area the houses of five settlers and of two Chinese market gardeners were surrounded by water, which was as high as three feet in the rooms. Only the tops of haystacks could be seen, while cattle, horses and sheep lined the stopbanks. The flood at Moutoa came with amazing swiftness, forcing seven settlers and Natives living in a pah to abandon their homes, the rooms filling to a depth of two feet. Large numbers of stock were removed to higher ground but some farmers will be heavy losers. On one small patch of high ground 303 cows were assembled. Today the waters receded fully two feet but the position of farmers is serious. Rail communication between Shannon and Levin is not yet restored. Until the waters recede and permit an inspection the usual service will not be resumed. CONDITIONS IMPROVING IN MANAWATU GORGE. PAHIATUA HILL ROAD OPEN. PALMERSTON N„ This Day. The flood conditions generally arc improving in the Manawatu Gorge. The Pahiatua Hill road, where big slips occurred, is now open. The railway at Shannon is expected to be open by 8 o'clock tonight.