WAIKATO RIVER IN FULL FLOOD

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 8

WAIKATO RIVER IN FULL FLOOD

Thousands Of Acres Awash

ROADS CUT; HOMES ISOLATED

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 22.

Flood waters have forced the closing of the Great South road from Mercer to Rangiriri to all private vehicles and light vans until further notice. Buses and heavy vehicles could still get through tonight. The swollen Waikato river was roaring down in full flood. The peak is expected tomorrow night or early on Sunday morning. Farmers, county workmen and Works Ministry men are waiting, ready to fight the rising flood. Thousands of acres are already under water.

Some Mercer householders have evacuated their water-surrounded homes; others planned to move out tonight.

The river control gates at Lake Taupo, which feeds the Waikato river, have been closed to reduce the flow downstream. But water is still pouring in from the Waipa and a score of tributaries.

The river is pouring across the Great South road in many places. Works Ministry trucks towed many light cars to safety after they had stalled in the flood today.

An alternative route is through Paeroa and Te Aroha.

Many homesteads are isolated. Farmers are using launches, dinghies and canoes to move about their properties. Water is lapping at the doors of some farm houses in the Churchill district. At Tuakau, half a dozen homes on the island in the river opposite the town are surrounded by water a foot or more deep.