RIVER UP AT TAUMARUNUI

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28793, 14 January 1959, Page 10

RIVER UP AT TAUMARUNUI

Stopbank Being Undermined (New Zealand Press AssocMHoa) , NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 18. . .Taumarunui reddents are to- , river through the town. In three places the stopbank is being undermined, and, although the - always the danger that It Wfll rise. The river rose about 4ft above , normal today, after heavy tain , the previous night At the junction of the Esplanade and Taupo road the river changed its course after the flooding at , Christmas and swept against the , toe of the stop bank, aggravating , the damage done during the previous flooding. One of two large poplar trees , left standing some feet back from ; the edge of the river tumbled into ‘ the river this afternoon. Ministry of Works employees are tonight ’ filling sandbags and placing them as a wall several feet back from ■ the crumbling edge of the stop--1 bank. 1 Should the river rise to break the weakened stopbank It could flood the whole of Taupo road. The oil er two places where the ‘ stopbank has been weakened are at Echolands, at the southern ap--1 proach to the town, and behind the new hall being built by ths ' Taumarunui Buffalo Lodge near the Taumarunui Domain. Behind the hall there is a definite breach in the stopbank where it has been undermined and has fallen in. and i the water has only to rise another . sft or 6ft to pour through into the Turaki Street Domain. Slight rain fell intermittently at Taumarunui tonight, but late , reports indicate that the level of the river has dropped a fraction.