WAIRARAPA FLOOD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 15, 30 October 1935, Page 3

WAIRARAPA FLOOD

DAMAGE TO FARM LANDS.

A LARGE AREA UNDER WATER.

(Par Press Association.) MASTERTON, October 29

Reports from many parts of the lower Wairarapa Valley to-night show that extensive areas were flooded in the fifth flood this year. In areas toward the Wairarapa Lake that have not yet been flooded, settlers have been busy to-day moving stock to safety in anticipation of the inundation that is inevitable when the waters moving dow r n the Ruamahanga River reach their lands.

One good thing is that the outlet from Onoke. Lake is open and clear, as it has been since last June. There are no heavy seas, and no spring floods are in prospect. For allowing an unimpeded escape of the flood waters, the condition of the • lake and outlet thus could hardly be improved upon. Service car drivers arriving in Masterton from Wellington between 8 and 9 o’clock to-night reported consider ably improved conditions. The outgoing tide had relieved the position at Silverstream, where the swollen Hutt River had caused a serious blockage during the afternoon. The position at the Waiohine Bridge, near Greytown, hnd also improved. The river at that point had rushed across the main road in torrents throughout the day, and drivers had to exercise great caution in getting through. The water was still well oyer the road, but it had lost its force, ■which earlier in the day was sufficient to hinder the progress of heavy transport lorries. Minor damage is reported to have been done to the north end of the Waiohine Bridge by the flood waters. There are numerous slips on both sides of the Rimutaka Hill, but none is of sufficient size to hold up traffic.

No Damage in Masterton, Little or no damage was done in Masterton, although the Ruamahanga, Waingawa, and Waipoua Rivers were running bank-high throughout the day. The Waipoua broke its banks at several points, and adjacent lancjs were inundated. A flood in the Waingawa River at the headworks of the Borough water supply was reported to be the highest for more than 10 years, the swollen waters almost reaching the intake race. No damage from slips is reported on Masterton County roUds, and the level of the Waipoua River, which runs close to the town, was falling late to-night. For practically the whole of yesterday the township of Martin borough and the surrounding districts were completely isolated, as the result of the Ruamahanga ltiyer breaking its hanks at points on the main Featherston - Martinborough road and the Martinborough - Greytown road. Small slips and wash-outs rendered the only other roads to Martinborough impassable. No mails were received or dispatched from Martinborough, and many settlers were unable to reach the. riawaha factory. Up to a late hour tonight there was more than two feet of water across the main FeatherstonMartinborough road at the Ruamahanga Bridge, and the road was covered to a depth of more than three feet at a point known as Jenkins Fill, a deviation on the road making an old channel of the river.

“ One Big Sea."

“On either side of the main road from Featherston is one big sea,” a Martinborough settler remarked tonight. Precautions, he added, were taken in the shifting of stock to the higher land, and it was not anticipated that any serious losses of stoex would result, although the outlook did not appear bright. A considerable area of farm land in the Kokatau district to the east of Greytown was inundated to-day, and the Greytown - Martinborough road was impassable. So far the Pirinoa district has not been affected by the flood waters, but it is anticipated that low-lying areas in that district will be covered to-morrow. Settlers in the Pukeio district had a busy time this afternoon shifting stock to higher levels. About 3.30 p.m. there "was no sign, of flooding; but in less than an hour a considerable volume of water had flowed through Pihautea, inundating an extensive area of land. The Tawaha settlement, a fertile low-lying district to the south of the Martinborough - Featherston road, is taking the full force of too flood, which one settler described as the worst since 1924. Practically the whole of the district is inundated, and only about half of the settlers could reach the Tawaha factory this morn-

From the Ruamahanga bridge on the Martinborough - Featherston mam highway, almost to the township of Martinborough, the whole of the lands to the south tfere covered to varying depths to-day. Homesteads Isolated. “It is what we call a ‘grandfather’ flood,” another settler observed, Several homesteads are completely cut ott to-night, and unless there is an improvement very soon the whole lot oi us will be isolated and m a bad way by to-morrow.” „ , , Another settler said flood watcis W ere within a few inches of the flooi of his house. At 9 o’clock to-night the Ruamahanga River had not risen for more than an hour, hut on the other hand, there had been no signs of the waters receding. The settlers are hoping that the wind will turn to the south, as it is the prevailing north-westerly weather that does most of the damage in the lower valley. The Tawaha settlers managed to get their stock mustered in good time, and it is not anticipated that there will be any serious losses. The principal pioblem facing the Tawaha settlers at the moment is how they are going to get to the factory. “Whatever happens,” one settler said), “at least five of us have no chance of getting out in the morning.” The Kahautara district also suffered

rather severely-, the waters from the swollen Ruamahanga River rushing through the break macle in the K'aliautara stop bank by a flood a few months ago.

the hutt river in flood.

FALLING RAPIDLY LAST NIGHT.

WELLINGTON, October 29. After causing the worst flood since the big Easter one of 1931, the Hutt River began to fall very rapidly about 4.30 this afternoon, and by 7o’clock tonight the roads were clear, through traffic being possible. The Akatarawa Road is closed, there being slips for a distance of three miles. There are a number of slips on the Rimutaka Road, confining traffic to one way. The river had risen 11 feet abo\e normal in the morning,, cutting off traffic to Silverstream. The rise was very rapid—about a- foot in 15 minutes. Manor Park golf links and the Hutt links were under water, and one house was entered by water.

Big cars, buses, and lorries were able to get through at Silverstream to the Upper Hutt Valley, but at one stage about 40 smaller vehicles were held up on the city side.

DAMAGE IN THE MANAWATU.

HEAVY RAIN FOR A WEEK. PALMERSTON NORTH, Oct. 29. After rain every day for the-’ last week, the country hears a very waterlogged appearance, though the warmth of the fall will greatly benefit pastures. Some concern lias arisen on low-lying lands, where stock has been removed lest the rivers should overflow.

The Tiritea stream, which emerges from a valley near Massey Agricultural College, overflowed its banks and did much damage to the College gardens and also the adjacent Bledisloe Park, a scenic attraction. Plots belonging to the Plant Research Station were inundated when the water flowed across the road to lower levels on the other side. Rain was still falling to-night, but the Manawatu River had dropped considerably during the day. The Whirokino Road was again’ blocked. No major flood damage was reported.