RIVER FLOODS STREETS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21285, 3 October 1934, Page 11

RIVER FLOODS STREETS

MASTERTONS PLIGHT i HEAVY DAMAGE CAUSED i BY GALE AND RAIN t O.UMI NIC.VTION RESTORED t-it.>.~c- 4s,socUlU''N 1 ELKui;.>.:.: MASTERTON, October 2. following on Monday morning's hurricane, the Waipoua river, which flows through Masterton, burst its banks near the town, and the 1 waters swept along several streets, including the main business section of Queen street, in which there was soon a raging torrent, which inundated other roadways in the vicinity. Houses in Elizabeth street. Hacker street, and the lower end of Church street were surrounded by water and in several cases the occupants vacated their homes. The water fell rapidly after midnight. The borough engineer said the Waipoua river had not been as high for years, and had the riverbed not recently been cleared out the flooding would have been much more serious and widespread. For a time Lansdowne was isolated from town except by motor-car traffic. There were many hurried exits from houses between Hope street and Columba road, in the direct track of the flood waters. In Queen street the most serious flooding occurred between the river and the post office, the water entering shops in a few instances.

A number of people who visited the park to view the hurricane damage were nearly trapped in a mass of fallen trees and branches by the flood water, which, rising very rapidly, came rushing through from a breach in the bank. They made a hurried exit by a gate near the cemetery to escape being caught by the water. This morning a driving southerly rain set in, causing untold damage to the interior of houses damaged by the hurricane. Flooding of a more or less serious nature is reported in other localities down the valley, such as Kokotau and near Martinborough, where all traffic is held up in the meantime: but details arc not available because communication is blocked.

It wiU be many weeks before telegraph, telephone, and power services are restored to normal repair. Gangs were rushed to the district, expediting the work which the rain is at present hampering. Two telephone circuits to the north were restored this morning, also a telegraph line, and the Power Board hopes to have all essential services re- [ stored by the end of the week. ! The full train service was resumed to-day, fallen trees on the lines having been the cause of the dislocation. Both the Masterton and Carterton Showgrounds were badly damaged by the hurricane, the buildings being either unroofed or otherwise knocked about. The Carterton show will be held on the set dates, October 24 and 25, about 30 unemployed men having been put on to repair the damage. The bush at the Solway Showgrounds suffered severely. It is estimated that 75 per cent, of the trees were uprooted or badly torn about, Several beautiful white pines in Mawley Park and others on Oxford street are ruined, some trees three feet through being broken in two about four feet from the ground. Position at Carterton Many people at Carterton >n<. night had an uncomfortable time. Frequent heavy showers were experienced and the rain poured into dwellings through open roofs. However, there was practical]}' no wind. The town was without light except for candies, but the power wa>restored by 0 o'clock, this morning. Business people set to work early and were seen carrying sheets of iron from surrounding paddocks <o their business places. The weather was fine, with occasional light showers. South of Carterton the road was still under water at many places, but the floods had subsided considerably since last night, The Waiohine river covered the ruad io a depth of about six inches, but car* were able to get through.. Relief gangs had cleared tiie from the roads, but wires were still hanging from telegraph poles. Paddocks all down the road were covered with pools of water. At Featherston theie was only : n inch or two of water o'i the road •'it each side of the town. The Rimutalca road was clear. Men were engaged in clearing slips and cleaning out the water-tables. Some small boulders on the road had to be avoided.

<;o\'rcUNOll-GENERAI/S SYMPATHY

MKSSA<;i-; TO MASTEKTON MASTERTON, October 2. The Mayor of; Masterton (Mr T. ■Jordan) has received the following message from the Governor-General fLord Bledisloe): "Your townspeople and other,": in Wairarapa who have suffered loss from the disastrous storm have the sincere sympathy ol Lady Bledisloe. and myself.' (Signed) Bledisloe. Governor General. Mr Jordan replied: -On behalf of Musiert.-.n i desire respectfully to acknowledge receipt of your telegram of today and to thank you and Lady Bledisloe for your kind message of sympathy."

| AID FOR SUFFERERS I

i KEQI ESTS TO (iOVEKXMKM ] EXPECTED j i j -kti-i .idSwn.ltinif VKl*Oj..., •:. ; WELLINGTON, October 2 in view of the extensive nature of . the damage in Wairarapa it is expected that requests for financial assistance will be made to the Government in ' order to carry out the necessary work , of rehabilitation, i The Prime Miui.-tft 'the Kt. Hon ■ . G. AV. Forbes', interviewed, stated that! i up to the present, the question had j j not. been raised with the Government | and the Cabiuet had not given H any I <