HEAVY RAINS

Grey River Argus, 24 May 1935, Page 6

HEAVY RAINS

IN NORTH ISLAND Widespread Flooding . 1 MASTERTON FLOODED. RIVER BREAKS BANKS. (Per Press Association.) MASTERTON. May 23. Rain fell in torrents throughout the night in Masterton. The Waipoua River broke ’its banks?, and flooded the low-lying portion of the towin the water being a foot or two deep in many houses, and an exciting time was experienced by the residents in lemovinig their household goods. Many streets were Hooded with .storm water, and river water came into Queen Street, doing considerable damage. In Dixon and Church Streets n the vicinity of the Park, worse damage was? done., several houses in Dixon Street being flooded, and poultry and domestic animals were drowned. The damage in this locality will fall heaving on the householders, their furniture being ruined, in many instances with water and silt.

It was in the early hours of the morning that the water commenced to rise in the river, and subsequently to break through into Dixon Street Just before eight o’clock, the river water rose, and poured like a torrent through the northern portion of Queen Street, flooding scores of shops. Most of the owners, however, were and had removed tneir floor stock to safety. Queen Street north way like a river flowing , bet a eon the shops an either side. The water for hours tore through Masterton Parks, doing much damage. Houses in the vicinity were invaded by the water. The flood water is now’ receding. Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done. FLOODING AROUND CARTERTON. CARTERTON. May 23. A severe rain storm visited South Wairarapa last night two point sixty - one inches falling in twenty-four hours coded at 9 o’clock this morning. The rivers are all in high flood. Water is running across the road between Carterton and Greytown, impeding traffic, but not stopping it. Hill roads in the country suffered from innumerable small slips. Bridges and approaches were damaged. No stock losses are reported though in several instances, sheep and cattle are surrounded and isolated. OTHER WAIRARAPA INUNDATIONS. (Per Press Association). MASTERTON, May 23. Nearly four inches of rain were registered during the might, at Long bush, in the districts north of Masterton. Large areas are flooded. At Kopuaranga water invaded the Post Office which was abandoned. At Mauriceville, was recorded the worst deluge ever known. The Ihura Valley was cut off through the flood., and the settlers are having an anxious time. At Kopuaranga, hundreds of acres are under flood, the settlers’ houses being completely surrounded and invaded by water. A small slip occurred on the railway near Mangamahoe tunnel* but is now’ cleared, trains getting through north ami south. At Bidford, the water was six feet deep in a farm housq, and the occupants were marooned all night. DANGER OVEE. MASTERTON. May 23. The flood waters around Masterton have now disappeared, but have left in their trail considerable debris. Although low lying lands along the Ruahamahnga River, further. dohvn the valley, were flooded. Kahutara and Tchopai, near Wairarapa Lake, escap e(b The banks prevented any trouble in this area. Several slips and wash-outs occurred on Masterton County roads. Mauriceville highway was blocked by p. slip, and a big area of land, near Weraiti road was Inundated, two temporary bridged in Weraiti and Castlepoint road being rendered unsafe Slips are also reported on Castlepoint road. Wangaehu and Dorsets roads were both blocked by slips, while culverts on Bowen road and S*tronvar road were washed out. Around Martinborough, flooding occurred at Tawaha, and it was necessary for one farmer to rescue some sheep in a boat. The w'eatfier has now cleared, and no further trouble expected. MANAWATU RIVER’S RISE. SERIOUS DAMAGE THREATENED i (Per Press Association). PATMERSTON NORTH, May 23. As the result of very reavy rain overnight, a rapid rise occurred in the Manawatu River. All streams are running bank high, and floods are feared in the low-lying areas. During the 24 hours ended at 9 a.in., 2.2 inches of rain fell in the city, bringing the total during the past 96 hours Un to 3.9 inches. From a level of seven feet six inches at 6 a.m., the Manawatu River rose steadily until at noon, it was 12 feet a<nd shows’ no signs of subsiding. The tributaries which flow adjacent to the city were unable to carry the heavy volume of water. Several have flooded. The Rangitikei line and main highways are covered in two places, but traffic is not interrupted. Gardens on the northern side of the city are inundated, also the greens of the Takaro Bowding Club. Minor flooding is reported in other parts of rhe city. Settlers on the low land between Tiakaitahuna and Rangiotu, were engaged, this morning, removing stock to safer levels. It is anticipated that if the river rose another foot or two, the water would sweep across and inundate Taonui Basin, where numerous floods have been experienced in past years. BULLS ROAD UNDER WATER. PALMERSTON NORTH, May 23. Motorists who travelled from Marton to Palmerston North, stated that much difficulty was experienced in negotiating the highway near Bulls between Bulls and Marton, where several cars had »to be assisted cut of the flooded portion. Much water lay on the roadway, and also in

the vicinity of the dairy factory at Bulls, on the main highway north. TARANAKI STORM. ( FLOOD IN HAWERA REGION. May 23. With 12 inches of water "flowing above the decking, fears were entertained this morning for the safety of the temporary bridge on the main south road across the Tangahoe River, but •the water rapidly subsided, and the bridge is open to traffic. Torrential ran fell during the night,. and the river rose rapidly, until at 7 o’clock a ’tremendous volume of water was coursing its way from the back country. The scene was reminiscent of the disastrous flood on February 22nd last, when the old bridge was carried bodily out to sea. The rain eased this morning, and in two hours the level of the river fell four feet. Heavy hail and snow fell on Mount Egmont. Many minor slips occurred i>,n the back country, and several roads were flooded, but a’l are nowclear. The high wind uprooted trees and brought down telegraph poles. Hawera being isolated for two hours from the south telephone circuits. Fences in some districts were flattened and wireless masts levelled. Mr Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, met a deputation of local bodies of Manaia and Hawera, this morn ing, and later left for Patea. To the Hawera County Council, which made a request for further assistance 'to repair recent flood damage he pointed out that the Department had no funds fur the purpose and any grants were from the Treasury. lie was, however, sympathetic, and should assist where possible. TAJRANAKI ROAD DAMAGE. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 23. A torrential rainfall in southern and eastern Taranaki, and through to tlie Main Trunk area last nighfl and this morning caused some damage to the roads. A large landslip in Tangarakau Gorge has blocked the road to Taumarunui, which will not be opened for two days. The rivers in south Taranaki were running very high, and in one ca«e over a main road bridge south of Hawera. but are subsiding to-night. DAMAGE AROUND WELLINGTON. HEAVY GALES. WELLINGTON. May 23. Wellington experienced a heavy southerly gale last night. Little rain fell in the city, but eight inches fell in the catchment area of the Wainui and Orongorongo ranges. Rough seas in the harbour damaged the Hutt Road railway* interfering with 'train running this morning, but a normal service was resumed thia afternoon. Chimneys, fences, trees telephone wirest. and radio aerials were blown (town in the city and suburban areas. The Hutt River rose eleven feet above normal, but is now falling. Water crossed the road at Silver stream. WELLINGTON HARBOUR STORM. WELLINGTON,. May 23. During the storm a large yacht broke adrift from its moorings in Evans Bay!, and drifted down 'the Bay til! it went aahore near the Patent Slip. The cabin and stern were badly damaged. There -were high seas at Petone in he vicinity of Patrick Street. Seaweed was deposited over the seawall. The waves actually reached the gardens of the private houses. Timber was deposited along the beach. SHIPPING AFFECTED. SEA DAMAGES TAMAIIINE. BLENHEIM, May 23. While crossing Cook Strait on the run from Wellington to Pieton, yesterday afternoon, the ferry steamer, Tamahinep w-as struck amidships by it, single very heavy overfalling sea, which reduced the main saloon entrance doors to water pouring into the cabijns in the immediate vicinity, and a small quantity invading the dining saloon. In addition. 25 to 30 feet of railing on the port side of the promenade deck was’ buckled/, and three small ventilators were flattened. No other damage was done, and though the vessel carried a deck-load of motor-cars, they were quite unharmed, as the damage was on the weather side.

The vessel was hove to for nearly •three hours, while repair.-’ were effected and also to await flood tide, and reached Picton four hours late. Some 40 passengers aboard -were naturally alarmed, 1 and had an unenviable time but there were no signs of panic. The ship’s officers state that the vessel has? made many rougher crossings, and the mishap -was due to a single sea, which reared itself out of no'where*, and crashed down upon the deck. Nothing cou’d be done to avoid it. CHRTiSTCHURCH, May 23. The inter-island steamer Rangatira, was ain hour late in arriving at Lyttelton. this morning, on account of bad weather. As a result, the Invercargill express was nearly an hour late in leaving Christchurch. WELLINGTON, May 23. The Maori arrived on time from Lyttelton,, but the Matajngi was an hour late form Nelson.