IN THE PROVINCES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 11

IN THE PROVINCES

Less Damage Than Feared In Wairarapa STOCK LOSSES MINIMIZED That all country districts outside the immediate vicinity of Wellington escaped (lie full force of Monday s storm is shown in ••Dominion” Special Service messages from the lower half of (he North Island. Even in the Wairararirpa, where the rapid rising of rivers and streams was thought likely to cause considerable losses of stock, the damage has been much less than was feared. A stock-taking of lhe position in the Wairarapa following the heavy rains of Monday show that the district escaped the full force of the storm. Rivers throughout the district rose in full flood, but the damage was limited Io riverside properties, and the exact nature of this will not be assessable till the flood waters subside. Though the rise in levels was rapid, it occurred 'in the morning, and farmers, by hurriedly shifting their stock to higher ground, were able to minimize stock losses. Some slips occurred in hilly positions of the district, and some scouting is reported at Dalefield, where the approach to the bridge over the Kaipataugata stream was partially washed out. Flooding took place at Dalelield and along the Waiohine River, and a number of smaller streams overflowed across the surrounding fields. A rainfall of 6.87 inches had been recorded at Te Wharau since 9 pan. on Sunday, and other parts of the district recorded falls of up to four inches for the past three days. Generally speaking, the rain will be welcomed, and farmers whose properties did not suffer material damage from the flooding are more than pleased with the effects of the storm. The rain will be particularly welcomed by dairyfarmers, whose farms for the past two months had been suffering from the effects of a very dry spring. Hawke’s Bay Rivers Discoloured. The appearance of Hawke’s Bay rivers yesterday suggested that there had been an exceptionally heavy fall of rain in the back country. Both the Ngaruroro and the Tutaekuri rose sharply overnight-, and yesterday morning were highly discoloured. The Ngaruroro rose just over four feet in 12 hours, and the Tutaekuri was over three feet above normal; neither had subsided appreciably yesterday afternoon. Both rivers were particularly dirty and appeared to be unusually heavily laden with silt and clay, which would indicate that considerable scouring had taken place in the upper reaches and in the back country. Exceedingly heavy rain fell throughout the night in Central Hawke’s Bay, 145 points being- recorded for the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday. All shearing and haymaking were held up, with no immediate prospect of the rain ceasing. Wild Night in Wanganui. A series of fierce storms swept Wanganui on Monday night, when, in addition to driving rainsqualls, a southerly gale reached a velocity of more titan 50 miles an hour. Telephone services in the Wanganui district were the chief sufferers, about 150 being reported out of order. There was no serious interruption to the power service, but the direct telegraph line from Wanganui to Auckland was out of order yesterday. Gardens and fruit trees in the city area suffered, and fences and wireless poles were blown down. The roads were reported open yesterday, when the Wanganui River was in only slight flood. No serious interruption was caused to the electric power supply and no serious slips or washouts had been reported in adjoining counties. ’The weather was again wild yesterday morning, but improved at midday.