FAST ASLEEP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 68, 22 March 1933, Page 8

FAST ASLEEP.

SAVED BY ONE MAN. WARNING BY TELEPHONE. PROMPT RESCTTE ■WORK. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") TAUMARUNUI, this day. Over 100 residents were rescued last night from the flood which caused a temporary evacuation of 200 homes situated mainly in the area known as the Flat. At three o'clock this afternoon the waters had subsided and people were gradually returning to their homes, to start the rehabilitation process. Many of the residents of tho Flat were sound asleep while the flood waters were rapidly rising round their homes, and they are heavily indebted to one man, who gave a warning to the district. Mr. Chapman, who is employed at the filter house at Piriaka, just below Taumarunui, saw the waters of the Wanganui River swelling to huge proportions, and he telephoned to Mr. Bowden, foreman of works, to expect a t>ig flood in the flats of the town and to warn the people living there. Water to His Neck. Mr. Bowden went from house to house warning householders of the danger, and when the rapidly-rising waters spread themselves over the flats, he was compelled to wade up to his neck to rescue a man, woman and child from two houses situated on the lowest level. Willing helpers, led by Constable McLennan, started operations on the flats, later summoning Sergeant Shyer to join in tho rescue work. Life-saving groups were quickly organised with the assistance of Messrs. Newland, Nicholson and Howie. While passing the home of Mr. Calderwood, the current was so fierce that a chain had to be formed to enable the road to bo crossed. Constable McLennan alono crossed by the chain method, and with tho aid of Mr. Howie succeeded in saving from possible drowning five or six people. The rescue band was augmented by the arrival of Constables Bruce and O'Sullivan and Superintendent Ross and members of the lire brigade. The rescue of a maternity case was successfully accomplished at Holmlea, and the woman wae removed for safety to the public hospital. Special Train to Matapuna. The Mayor of Taumarunui, Mr. C. Boles, who had taken a leading part with the life-saving group, realised after completion of the work at Cherrygrove and the Flats, that a number of homes at Matapuna might be in danger. Arrangements were accordingly made with tho Railway Department to run a train to the locality, as the roads were impassable for motor traffic beyond the saleyards. The train, which left Taumarunui at 4.15 a.m., had to stop a quarter of a mile from the destination, as the floods had scoured the permanentway to sueli au extent that in many places the line was badly undermined. Wading into the highway the rescue workers visited a number of houses, and from one place rescued two old people, Mr. and Mrs. Munn, and Mrs. Simpson and her daughter from another.