FLOODS IN WESTLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1939, Page 7

FLOODS IN WESTLAND

STREETS UNDER WATER. LOSS OF STOCK REPORTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH. November 30. Heavy rains for two days brought exceptional flooding today in Westland rivers, particularly the Hokitika and the Little Wanganui. Some Hokitika streets on Wednesday were inundated, and today at 1 p.m. the river was 14 inches higher and street flooding was more extensive. Protective works on the south side of the Hokitika River mouth were washed seaward. and a large sandbank at the entrance also disappeared. The Kokatahi Valley farming area was extensively flooded, while the flood in the Arahura River was prevented by recent protective work: from inundating farms. South Westland rivers in several instances today broke their banks. At Harihari the Little Wanganui River cut through the protective bank and joined the La Fontaine River. A wide pastoral area in the Poerua settlement was flooded, causing loss of live stock. The road to the settlement is under nearly live feet of water, which rose four feet in the home of one settler. Harihan Valley resembles a lake. Steady rain has fallen in the Grey district and rivers are swollen, but no damage is reported except a slip on the Otira Road. The total rainfall for | 24 hum's Is two ineb.es. ;