HUTT VALLEY FLOOD

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 10

HUTT VALLEY FLOOD

WATERS RAPIDLY RECEDE HEAVY LOSS OF STOCK

COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED (By Tel«BT»pt>-—Press Assoolsaon) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Receding today as rapidly as it had risen, the Hutt River left many hundreds of acres in the upper part of the valley covered with shingle, silt and driftwood. An accurate estimate of the damage is not possible, but it will run into thousands of pounds. Golf clubs in particular have suffered severely, farmers have lost much stock and valuable feed has been destroyed. The Hutt River began to fall after reaching its peak at "5.30 p.m. yesterday, when it was 14ft. above normal, and continued to fall steadily. By 8 p.m. today it had gone down about eight. The secretary of the Hutt River Board said tonight that if there was no further heavy rain, the river might be back to normal by tomorrow evening. Golf Links Damaged The Manor Park golf links presented a desolate scene this afternoon. A large area at the northern end of the course was covered to a depth of about a foot with shingle, boulders and silt. Driftwood was everywhere. The floor of the Clubhouse was covered with an inch of silt. The damage is worse than in 1931 and it is doubtful whether the full 18 holes will be ready for play again by next winter. The Whakatiki links at Upper Hutt also suffered severely, and will not be playable for a long time. The Hutt links and the Wellington Club's links at Heretaunga were also flooded, but not so seriously. Bridges Washed Away The Deep Creek and Flux's Road bridges have been washed away, and Cooley’s Creek bridge, a big concrete structure, has been left high and dry. The creek has changed it* course and washed away 15 chains of fence. The concrete Te Marua bridge having collapsed, it is quite impassable, but between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. cars are being allowed across Black Bridge, a wooden structure which carried the highway across the Mangaroa River Before the concrete bridge was erected about eight years ago. Farmers at Mangaroa, which is an important source of Wellington’s miik supply, joined forces today and got their miik over the creeks in carts. Serious Erosion Serious erosion occurred in the Taita Gorge, where the Public Works Department built a huge groyne a few years ago. The groyne collapsed, and at two places the river has cut several feet Into the road for about 20 yards. The road was open for a time today, but was closed again. The main road from Wellington to the Wairarapa has been closed for heavy vehicles and for motor-cars at night because of the collapse of the Te Marua bridge over the Mangaroa River. Slips on the Rimutaka Hill have been cleared sufficiently to allow cars to pass, but care is needed. The Akatarawa Road, connecting Upper Hutt with Waikanae, will be closed until further notice, while the Moonshine Road, connecting Trentham with Pahautanui, is blocked.