LITTLE DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1942, Page 2

LITTLE DAMAGE

MASTERTON ESCAPES FLOOD STOPBANKS STAND FIRM. BIG VOLUME OF WATER IN WAIPOUA. Although nearly four inches of rain were recorded in Masterton during the past 48 hours, the town and district escaped lightly, apart from damage caused by leaks in dwellings and buildings. The Waipoua River carried an immense volume of water yesterday. The flood was considered to be as high as the peak reached in 1934. It was the first real test for the new stopbanks which were erected along the river following the straightening of its course. No damage at all has been done to the banks, though there was some scouring near the eastern pier of the swing bridge in the Park. . The area . alongside the Lansdowne septic tank was also scoured to some extent. Elsewhere, notably at the headworks, little damage appears to have been done. The Waipoua began to fall last night at about 9 o’clock, after remaining in high flood for six or seven hours. Mr H. M. Boddington reports that between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. yesterday 1.44 inches of rain were recorded at Solway and from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. today a further .85 inches were registered, making a total for the 24 hours of 2.29 inches. In the previous 24 hours there were 1.41 inches.