A HEAVY FLOOD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 August 1921, Page 2

A HEAVY FLOOD.

SHANNON CUT OFF,BY ROAD.

BOAT SERVICE IN OPERATION. The full effects of the heavy rains of the past five dr six days was felt in the Manawatu basin yesterday, when the marks of the “old man” flood of October last were reached during the afternoon. Shannon is brought into close contact with the watery visitation again, road traffic to both r-ai-merston and Foxton being cut off to motor traffic. On the Foxton road the flood waters approached to within 300 yards of the township, the depth on this road nearer the Manawatu bridge being over four feet. On the Makerua road the water rose to a height of between two and three feet. From the high country above Shannon the flooded area presented a great spectacle, extending from below the town right across the flat beyond Moutoa, and away past Makerua and Tokomaru and south to the Wirokino, the course of the Manawatu being lost in the maze of the swirling waters. The larms in the inundated area will again suffer considerable damage to their pastures by the quantities of silt deposits that will be left .behind, quite apart from ruined fences' and other loss incidental to such visitations. In the Makerua numbers of motorists pushed through on the flooded road in the hope of getting norih, but the depth of water was an • effective bar, and they were brought to a standstill. However, the man with the horse and dray was on the scene, and profiting by the hold-up, was busily engaged all day in towing cars through from each side. The old quo- , tation about “the ill wind” still holds good. Stock owners on the low-lying country were not caught napping this time, having) had /sufficient warning of the probability of a flood and moving . \ their cattle to high country. So faf\ few, if any, losses have occurred. ’ . The mail service between Foxton and Shannon has been cut off for some days, and yesterday even the Wirokino route was blocked, the only way open being by rail via Longburn. A boat service was brought into operation yesterday afternoon, when Mr W. ] Coley set out from Shannon in a dinghy for Moutoa \Vith mails aboard for Foxton. A large extent of country was covered in the Koputaroa district last evening, the creeks and races running bank high. There was a fall in the . water level at 5 p.m., however, and it appeared then as if the waters had passed the peak and the worst was , over. ( : Luckily, very little damage is reported in any part of the district. The cut put in at the Tokomaru bridge is acting splendidly, and the bridge is not endangered in any way. Reports from other districts show that the boisterous weather has been general.; ' Last night a slip occurred on the railway line between Ngaio and Khandallah and the up Auckland express was not dispatched from Wellington until 12.10 this morning. The of , the gale broke railway telegraph lines at Pliraraerton, and the tablet service - at that station had to be suspended. This morning the wind took a more southerly direction, and heavy hath storms were experienced in different parts of the country. The word “Ghau” is said to mean “wind,” and last night at least it did not belie its name, for a storm bf un- i precedented fury raged over the district. In one of the worst 'gusts the big windmill at the railway station was dsmantled, part of it being der ' posited some distance away in Bishop Bros.’s paddocks. The saddleshed in the school grounds was overturned, and now rests on its roof. At the Kuku a number of trees were uprooted. DAMAGE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. (Per Press Association.) New, Plymouth, August 5. Phenomenally , heavy seas and high' spring tides have caused considerable damage along the foreshore: The reclaiming wall in front of the railway station has suffered, and trains leaving this morning had to proceed carefully! There is much erosion at the east end of the bathing reserve, where the pavilion. is endangered. s There is little damage at the breakwater, where the Waitomo and Kennedy lay quite snug, but the Corlnna is unable to berth until the weather moderates. , HOT OVER YET. ( BUT BAROMETER RISING FAST. The indications are for westerly winds and backing by west to sooth soon. Stormy weather may be expected. Heavy rain is to be expected, .with flooded. The weather will N probably become very cold; barometer rising last soon.