SERIOUS FLOODS

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1932, Page 5

SERIOUS FLOODS

IN HAWKE’S BAY Traffic Held Up WIDE AREA INUNDATED. (Per Press Association). NAPIER, April 30. Country reports indicate that floods have become general in Hawke’s Bay and the position is serious. Tangoio is under three feet of water. All the roads to the north are completely blocked. The Railway Department reports there is danger of the railway bridge at Waipawa being washed away. Pakowhai and the Hastings side of the Ngeruroro River are well covered with water, but that river is reported to be falling. The Tutaekuri River broke at Brookfields, and hundreds of acres are under three feet of water. Napier is not likely to be affected. HOUSES ISOLATED HASTINGS, May L Flood conditions have prevailed ;n the district between Napier and Hastings, and to the westward, over the week-end. The position was serious late yesterday, and in easing off, the ain and moderfifing of the sea at the river mouth prevented greater damgo than that. already done. A break in the banks of the Tutaekuri River resulted in a large area or Lower Papakura being flooded to th'? height of two or three feet. The Ngaruaroro River broke through et -Raupare, flooding Poplar Avenue and Pakowhai, small settlements west of Hastings. The River has to-day gone down considerably, and the flood waters are receding. No stock losses are reported. About a dozen houses at Lower Pupakura are isolated, and in some nistancee are short of food. Arrangements for the supply of food hava since been made. Yesterday only the highest buses were able to travel between Napier and Hastings, but to-day cars wer*» able to use the main road, though the water was still up to the running boards at Waitangi dip. The Napier-Wairoa Road was blockd yesterday but an alternative route s now open. The road to Taupo is still impassbble, owing to large slips. Ilaumoana, a beach resort, suffered eve rely, numerous houses being isolated yesterday. The need for river protection work seems more acute in this part since the earthquake.