FLOOD HAVOC

Evening Star, Issue 23512, 28 February 1940, Page 8

FLOOD HAVOC

WANGANUI SUFFERS HEAVILY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY FIVE FEET OF SILT ON ESPLANADE [Pbb United Press Association.] WANGANUI, February 28. Estimates of the damage caused by Saturday’s rain and Sunday’s floods show that there is much costly repair work ahead in Wanganui. It is estimated that it may take at least a month to reayir the,damage to the New Zealand Refrigerating Company’s conveyor jetty at Imlay, which was damaged early on Sunday when struck by the Wanganui Gravel Company’s runaway barge and subsided later in the day, when a gap of 100 ft was left. In the meantime it will be impossible to do any lightering from the works, and meat for overseas will have to bfe railed to either Wellington or New Plymouth. It will be necessary to drive two sets of piles in the gap, the original piles having been torn away.

Because the Wanganui River road is impassable beyond Parikino traffic between Wanganui and Pipiriki will have to bo carried by river for several weeks at least. River boats will leave Wanganui every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for Pipiriki, down trips being made on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This service will give access to settlers who would otherwise be isolated. Passengers for Pipiriki will be taken as far as Parikino by bus and will board the steamer, thus saving about two hours on the trip from Wanganui, RESERVES BURIED. The superintendent of reserves (Mr S. I. Cos) said to-day that many valuable trees and plants in the riverside esplanade had been ruined through a mile-long reserve. The silt in some places was sft deep, while deep channels had been scoured in the pathways. “The whole esplanade beggars description, and until I am able to get into it and make a proper inspection I am unable to say' what the damage is,” ho said. “ The rhododendron borders, azaleas, and roses have all been buried and will be lost. Bamboo plants have been bent down and covered. Many valuable trees planted 15 years or more will probably die because of the water lying in the esplanade.” Damage has also been done at Aramoho Park, particularly to the paths along the river bank, which have been buried and will have to he remade.

Two feet of silt has been deposited in the southern portion of the motor camp. All the gardens on the river front near the town bridge have been obliterated. COUNTRY VISITATION. Engineers of the Public Works Department are unable to estimate the damage on the Wanganui River road, which is badly blocked north of, Atene. Fillings are said to have been washed away, and there are many slips. Mr F. Hermans said the settlers in the Ruatiti district were isolated because the Manganui-a-Teao bridge was washed'away. •Roads in the Mangatiti district have been badly blocked with slips, and telephone communication has been interrupted. Three of the IRangitikei County bridges have been washed away. Two others washed away were the Hautawa bridge, near Mr T. A. Duncan’s Otairi Station, where there is also a big washout, and Morton’s suspension bridge over the Turakina River, about two miles below Otairi.

Mr Duncan, of Otairi Station, said the Turakina River was running 10ft higher than he had previously seen it. Some up-country settlers reported that the Turakina (River rose 20ft in an hour. There was, little time to move live stock from the flats to the hills. Mr J. D. Lilburn, of Drysdale, lost valuable stud sheep. More than 100 settlers were isolated from Raetihi when the Manganui-a-Teao bridge was washed away. Much damage was caused to roads and bridges in the Ruatiti and Mangatiti districts.

A mob of 800 sheep left at the lower end of the Mangapurua Valley on Saturday was marooned between slips and washouts, and it may be several weeks before the animals can be rescued. More than six inches of rain were recorded in Raetihi between early Friday night and late on Saturday. From 9 a.m. on Saturday till the rain stopped at midnight the fall was 4.07 in. MAIN TRUNK LINE SPEED RESTRICTIONS STILL CAUSE DELAY [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 28. The afternoon express from Wellington arrived here at 8.30 this morning and the Limited at 11.45. Delay is still being caused by the speed restrictions over the sections caused by the slips, but train running is becoming more normal, The usual expresses leave for Wellington at 3 and 7.15 p.m. to-day.