FLOOD DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 5

FLOOD DAMAGE

ASSISTANCE BY GOVERNMENT MACHINERY & MEN. FOOD BEING SENT BY PLANES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Reports he had received from his departmental engineers on the damage caused by the floods on the west coast of the North Island were made available yesterday by the Minister’ of Public Works, the Hon R. Semple. He said that the people affected could rest assured that everything possible would be done to clear the roads and to provide food for them where necessary by aeroplane in the interval. Mr Semple said the problem of concentrating men and machinery in the affected areas was difficult because of the floods. Some of the bridges would not carry heavy machinery, and it was necessary to wait till the rivers subsided so that they could be forded. “As soon as they subside,” said the Minister, "machines will be sent to the most seriously affected spots, and it will not be long before the roads are cleared. This is another demonstration of the value of modern machinery. Engineers are working day and night, and men and machinery will be concentrated at the most important spots.” Mr Semple said that the engineer-in-chief, Mr J. Wood, had sent an inspecting engineer to the locality with instructions to remain there till he was able to get a full report. In the meantime the district engineers were giving every assistance in overcoming the great difficulties. It was a major calamity of ..its kind in the districts concerned. ROAD BLOCKED WANGANUI RIVER STEAMERS RESUME RUNNING. WANGANUI. February 27. Because the telephone service between Wanganui and Pipiriki is out of order details of the flood at Pipiriki are meagre, but Wanganui River Services, Ltd, reported today that no serious damage was caused. It is expected that the newly-formed portions of the road near Pipiriki will have suffered, however. Telephone commun* ication between Pipiriki and Raetihi was also cut off. Because the Wanganui River road is impassable beyond Parikino traffic between Wanganui and Pipiriki will have to be carried by river for several weeks at least. River boats will leave Wanganui every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for Pipiriki, the down trips being made’ on Monday. Wednesday, and Friday. This service will give access to settlers who would otherwise be isolated by the closing of the road. Passengers for Pipiriki will be’ taken as far as Parikino by bus and will board the steamer at one of the landings, thus saving about two hours on the trip from Wanganui.

SUDDEN FLOODING DAMAGE IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY. SEVERAL BRIDGES LOST. PALMERSTON N., February 27. Something in the nature of a cloudburst over the Karioi Plain area, followed by extremely heavy rain which extended over an area of about 20 miles to the south of the plain, was the cause of the sudden flooding of the rivers, said Mr S. A. R. McNair, engineer to the Rangitikei County Council, when asked about damage to roads and bridges in the county area. The terrific fall of rain in a comparatively short period resulted in such an accumulation of surface water that it rushed down the Turakina and other rivers like a wave. Three of the county bridges had been washed away, he said, and two others were damaged; he thought the total damage in the county area would be about £4OOO. The bridges that were washed away were the Hautawa bridge near Mr T. A. Duncan's Otairi Station, where there was also a big washout; Morton’s suspension bridge over the Turakina River, about two miles below Otairi, a structure about 130 feet long; and a 70-foot bridge over the Mangapapa Stream on the Pukemapu Road between Mataroa and Otairi. One of the damaged bridges over the Turakina River is that on Whareora Road, below Mr K. Hammond's property, which is now only passable on foot.

Mr James Lourie lost a new bridge over the Mangapapa River which cost £560.