WAIRARAPA STORM

Grey River Argus, 3 October 1934, Page 5

WAIRARAPA STORM

HEAVY RAIN FOLLOWS State Relief Wanted MONDAY'S HAVOC. PEOPLE DAZED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 2. Advices from Masterton state that yesterday’s storm did damage to buildings and other property, running into many thousands of pounds. Some hundreds of houses in the affected area had their roofs torn off, and many of the larger buildings suffered similarly. At the height of the storm be tween 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., sheets of corrugated iron and debris of all kinds were seen hurtling through the air at enormous speed. A remarkable feature is that no lives were lost, nor was anyone seriously injured. Following on an apparent cloudburst in the ranges, serious flooding occurred at Masterton last night, when the Waipoua River overflowed its banks and water flowed into the streets. Although light rain was falling there was considerable improvement in the Hood conditions about 11 p.m., and by midnight much of the threat of serious flooding had passed. Two hours, from 7 to 9 a.m. on Monday, were really a nightmare, residents being aghast at the severity of the. visitation. So widespread and so extensive is the damage, that it will be a serious job to make anything approaching a complete list. Residents were dazed at the terrific velocity of the wind, and with the scene of the wreckage that met their eyes in almost every street. Several pedestrians were lifted bodily off their feet and thrown down some distance away. A 50 feet chimney stack collapsed like a pack of cards. Damage in Masterton Park is almost indescribable. Innumerable large trees have been uprooted. while the havoc in the flower beds is heartbreaking. The custodian’s house was badly damaged when a tree crashed on it.

Rain continues to fall to-day and the rivers are still high. In Masterton. the flood did a very large amount of damage and the shopkeepers are busy to-day cleaning up their premises. Some houses still have a foot of water in them, and the whole scene round Masterton is one of destruction and desolation. The roads are being rapidly cleared of fallen trees and slips, and communications are gradually being restored. Around Carterton RESTORATION WORK. WELLINGTON, October 2. Many people in Carterton last night had an uncomfortable time. Frequent heavy showers were experienced. Th? rain poured into the dwellings through the open roofs. However, there was practically no wind, but the town was without light except for candles. Power was restored by eight o’clock this morning. Business people set to work early, and were seen carrying sheets of iron from the surrounding paddocks to business places. The weather was fine with occasional light showers.

South of Carterton, the road was still under water at many places, but the floods had subsided considerably since last night. The Waiohine River covered the road to a depth of about six inches, but cars were able to get through. Relief gangs had cleared trees from the roads, but wires are still hanging from the telegraph. Posts in paddocks are all down. The road is covered with pools of water.

At Featherston, only an inch or two of water is on the road at each side of the town. The Rimutaka Road is clear. Men were engaged in clearing slips and cleaning out the water tables. Some small boulders on the road had to be avoided.

On the southern side of the range, a heavy southerly wind with heavy rain was encountered. Visibility at Kaitoke was low. The Hutt River is flowing swiftly considerably above normal, but still has to rise a foot or two before it covers the road. At Silverstream, a creek coming from the hills covered the road to a depth of six inches. Cars were able to negotiate the seclion, with care. The lowlying ground on all sides is under water. Rain at Masterton INCREASES DAMAGE YESTERDAY. SERIOUS FLOODING TN THE TOWN. (Per Press AssociaitionA MASTERTON, October 2. Following on Monday morning’s hurricane, the Waipoua River, which flows through Masterton, burst its banks near the town, and the waters swept along several streets, including the main business section of Queen Street, in which there soon was a raging torrent, which inundated other roadways in" the vicinity. Houses in Elizabeth and Hacker Streets, and in the lower end of Church Street, were surrounded by water, and in several cases the occupants vacated their homes. The water fell rapidly after midnight. RIVER RUNS HIGH. The Borough Engineer said the Waipoua had not been higher for years, and had the river bed not recently been cleared out, the flooding would have been much more serious and widespread. For quite a while Lansdowne was isolated from the town, except by motor car traffic. There were many hurried exits from houses between Hope Street and Columba Road in the direct track of the flood waters. Tn Queen Street the most serious flood-

ing occurred between the river and the Post Office, water entering shops in a few instances. PEOPLE NEARLY TRAPPED. A number of people who visited the Park to view the hurricane damage were nearly trapped in a mass of fallen trees and branches by the flood water, which, rising very rapidly, came rushing through from a breach in the bank into the Park. They made a hurried exit by a gate near the cemetery to escape being caught by the water. This morning a driving southerly rain set in, causing untold damage to the interior of the houses that were damaged by the huricane. COUNTRY PLACES SUFFER. Flooding of a more or less serious nature is repotted in other localities down the Valley, such as Kokotau, and near Martinborough, where all traffic has been held up in the meantime, but details are unprocurable on account of communication being blocked. RESTORING SERVICES. It will be many weeks before the telegraph, telephone and .power services are restored to normal. Repair gangs rushed to the district, expediting the work, which the rain is at present hampering. Two telephone circuits to the north were restored this morning, also the telegraph line, ami the Power Board hope to have all essential services restored by the end of the week. The full train service resumed to-day. the fallen trees on the lines having been the cause of dislocation. SHOWGROUND AND TREE DAMAGE. Both Masterton and Carterton showgrounds were badly damaged by the hurricane, the buildings being either unroofed or otherwise knocked about. Carterton Show will be held on the set dates, as usual, October 24 and 25, about thirty of the unemployed having been put on to repair the damage. The bush at Solway Showgrounds has suffered severely. It is estimated that 75 per cent, of the trees have been uprooted, or badly torn about. Several beautiful white pines in Manley Park ami others on Oxford Street Flats were ruined, some trees three feet through being broken in two about four feet from the ground.

FLOOD IN THE HUTT. WELLINGTON, October 2. The Hutt River rose about twelve feet above normal, due to the down pour, the highest level being about 3 a.m. The main road was flooded at Silverstream, and only cars with a high clearance were ab2e to get through. The flood waters were troublesome in various parts of the valley, but no serious damage has been reported. MANAWATU ESCAPES. PALMERSTON NORTH. October 2. An exceptionally dry month was experienced in Palmerston in September, there being only S 6 points of rain. It was the driest month for twenty years. Despite the cyclonic winds in the Wairarapa and heavy gales in Wellington and surrounding districts. Palmerston North has .had calm, mild conditions, with intermittent rain since Saturday evening. QUESTION OF FINANCIAL AID. WELLINGTON, October 2. In view of the extensive nature of the damage in Wairarapa. it is expected that requests for financial assistance will be made to the Government in order to carry out. the necessary work of rehabilitation. Mr Forbes, interviewed, stated that up to the present, the question had not been raised with the Government, and Cabinet had uot given it any consideration. GOVERNOR’S SYMPATHY. MASTERTON. October 2. The Mayor of Masterton, Mr Jordan, has received the following message from the Governor-General: “Your townspeople and others in Wairarapa who have suffered loss from the disastrous storm have the sincere sympathy of Lady Bledisloe and myself.’’ (Signed) Bledisloe, Governor-General.

Mr Jordan replied as follows: “On behalf of Masterton. T desire respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of to-day. and to thank you and Lady Bledisloe for your kin ! message of sympathy.” A STORM “SPECIAL.” WELLINGTON, October 2. An example of journalistic enterprise was given by . the Wairarapa “Daily News.” Carterton, which, owing to the absence of electric power on Monday, was unable to publish as usual. The proprietors issued a special “Storm” edition, which consisted of a single sheet, printed on both sides, each containing three columns of news and advertisements, the column being 13 inches long. This was run off on one of the smaller presses. At the “News” premises, one shed collapsed, and the roofs of two others were damaged. Tn the main building several skylights were smashed, and three machines flooded with water. The “News” states that the damage to the town is estimated to run to many thousands of pounds. The main street is a scene of ruin. Sheets of corrugated iron, posts, and glass .are scattered in all directions.