INCESSANT RAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 July 1943, Page 3

INCESSANT RAIN

FLOODS IN MANAWATU LARGE AREA OF LAND INUNDATED. HOUSEHOLDERS SWIM TO DRY LAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. PALMERSTON N„ July 12. As the result of persistent week-end rain, which was particularly heavy on Sunday night, the Manawatu, Pohangina and Oroua rivers were today in high flood. The engineer to the Mana-watu-Oroua River Board, Mr H. R. Farquhar, advised that following heavy rainfalls in Norsewood and Eketahuna, the Kumeroa and Tiraumea rivers were rising, and the flood waters would possibly reach the lower reaches late in the afternoon. Incessant rain at Feilding at the week-end caused the Makino Stream to run bank high, many places bordering the stream being flooded. The waters were lapping the decking of all the bridges. Several properties were under water, some of the occupants of houses between Grey and Hobson Streets having to swim to dry land during the night. It is considered that the present flood equals the record height the streams registered in 1930. Water was over the paths in many streets. On Awahuri Road properties stock were hurriedly removed to safety. The old highway between Feilding and Awahuri was several feet under water, and farm properties in the vicinity were submerged. Because of the swollen state of the Crcua River, which assumed serious dimensions, the bridge on the Rongo-tea-Longburn highway was closed as a safety measure, as the approaches were in danger of being washed away. The river overflowed at Thompson’s Bush, near Lower Aorangi Road, inundating the surrounding properties, some of which had not been flooded for years past. The Mangaone Stream, overflowed near the Palmerston North railway deviation. Mr Farquhar advised this afternoon that there was no danger of the Manawatu River flood affecting the city and there was no cause for alarm. The rain ceased early this afternoon and the prospects were bright for a speedy improvement in the weather. Officials of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board deplored rumours of an alarming nature which were broadcast, thus undermining the accurate information which they were endeavouring to give the settlers. This is the third flood in a fortnight which the settlers in the lower areas have had to suffer. • In the last three days there have been over three inches of rain in Dannevirke, with heavier rain near the ranges. Considerable surface water lies on the lowland, especially in the Te Rehunga area. No damage is reported to county roads, but three sections of the main road south of Dannevirke were covered with water this morning.

SOME SETTLERS ISOLATED ROADS BLOCKED IN WANGANUI ' DISTRICT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, July 12. Rivers and streams in the Wanganui district are running high following heavy rain in the back country at the week-end. Flooding has occurred in the low levels, and some settlers in the. hinterlands are isolated because of roads being blocked. A number of roads are reported to be blocked by slips. There is a considerable fresh in the Wanganui River today, the water this afternoon being about 4ft. above normal at the town wharf, and 3ft. above normal at Castlecliff, where the current is flowing at a rate estimated at between five and seven knots. At Pipiriki, 49 miles from Wanganui, where the river is very narrow, the flood waters were 21ft. above normal on Sunday night. The rain ceased at Pipiriki this morning.

TRAINS HELD UP SLIPS ON RAILWAY LINES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Slips between Utiku and Mangaweka, on the Main Trunk line south of Taihape, delayed express trains running from Auckland to Wellington yesterday morning. A relief express which left for Wellington at 6 p.m. oh Sunday was held at Utiku for 66 minutes because of several small slips and flood waters on the track. The Limited which was following the relief train was delayed at Taihape for 65 minutes. Because of speed restrictions adopted as a safety measure over affected sections of the track, both expresses were more than two hours late arriving at Marton Junction. The Limited was also held at Hunterville for a short time because of a stream overflowing at Silverhope. Due in at Wellington at 9.30 a.m. yesterday, it was two hours and a half late. The Main Trunk was open again yesterday, but gangs of men are watching the permanent way. Minor slips occurred on the Strat-ford-Okahukura line on Sunday .principally between Whangamomona, 37 miles from Stratford, and Tangarakau. Slips in the Manawatu Gorge as the result of heavy rains, which included the Woodville area, delayed the Napier express for several hours yesterday afternoon. Due at. Wellington at 4 p.m., the Napier express did not arrive till 7.10 p.m.