WAIRARAPA FLOODS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1935, Page 5

WAIRARAPA FLOODS.

TROUBLE PRACTICALLY OVER. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) MASTER-TON, Last Night. Ail the flood waters around Masterton have now disappeared, but have left in their trail considerable damage. Although the low-lying lands along the Ruamahanga river further down the valley were flooded, Kahutara and Tehopai, near Wairarapa lake, escaped, the stopbanks preventing any trouble in this area. Several slips and washouts occurred on the Masterfon county roads. The Mauriceville highway is blocked by a slip and a big area of land near Weraiti road is inundated, two temporary bridges on the Wcraiti and- Castle point road being rendered unsafe, Slips are also reported on the Castlepoint road and the Wangaehu and Dorsets roads are both blocked by slips, while culverts on the Bowen road and Stronvar road were washed out.. Around Maryborough flooding occurred at Tawaha and it was necessary for one farmer to rescue some sheep in a boat. The weather has now cleared and no further trouble is expected. WATER POURS THROUGH UNCOMPLETED BANK. MAN WADES THIGH-DEEP FOR HALF A MILE Advice received at 12.30 this morning stated that at Hamilton’s line the river was still rising at midnight and was pouring through the uncompleted portion of the River Board’s stopbank, so that an area of about 3000 acres is already under water. . The flood in the Manawatu was thought to have reached its peak at about midnight, having risen considerably since 11 p.m. The Palmerston North-Foxton road was now impassable, and the water was practically on a level with the Foxton railway. It was on the main road within half a mile of the Tiakitahuna railway station. A small van owned by the Cherry Blosom Ice Cream Co. had to be abandoned near the bend known as the “Half-crown bend,” and the occupants had to wade out thigh-deep for about a mile. A large mob of bullocks on the property of Mr T. Duncan atßangitane had a narrow escape from being trapped in a low-lying area. Tiakitahuna settlers were of the opinion that the water which was coming through the uncompleted stopbank would have been mostly confined to the river channel had the work been completed. At midnight the water was at its highest level since 1926. The seriousness of the position .is indicated by the fact that although the Fitzherbert gauge did not show any upward move after ati early hour last evening, the water was still rising at Hamilton’s bend at midnight, suggesting that for another six hours there would at least bo no abatement in that quarter. ROADS THREATENED AT FOXTON. A report from Foxton at 1 o’clock this morning stated that the Poplar road was under water, and it was also rumoured that the river had broken across bn to the Whirokino highway. High tide at Foxton was' expect- ; ed between 1 and 2 a.m., and as the full body of the flood waters would not reach the lower areas for some hours there is likely to be a big inundation later in the morning. PREPARING TO LEAVE HOMES. At 2 o’clock this morning it was known that several people at Rangiotu had “packed up” and were preparing to evacuate their homes. .CHINAMEN’S NARROW ESCAPE. VEGETABLE LORRY WASHED AWAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. Five 'Chinamen travelling with a load of vegetables on a heavy lorry had to swim fo'r their lives when the lorry plunged' into a flooded stream yesterday on Boness Road, which joins the vFeildingfAwahuri road. The vehicle was traversing a section which was awash, when it unexpectedly entered a deep hole on the edge of the raging flood waters. The lorry turned over o'n its side and disappeared. After a struggle during which they were compelled to discard their knee boots and part of their clothes, all the occupants managed to swim to the edge Of the banks and pull themselves out. There was no sign subsequently of the lorry which had been swept away into the still deeper water. Horses in the vicinity are marooned, the water in some places being level with the top of the fences. Conditions have considerably improved in that area to-day. WATER NOW RECEDING. POSITION RAPIDLY RETURNING TO NORMAL. PALMERSTON N., This Day. Overflowing its banks at nightfall the Manawatu river came through the J gap in the protective works near Tia-

/VVWUWVWWUVWVVWVUWWIi kitalmna, invading the low-lying area of several thousand acres, principally in the Taonui basin, between Tiakitaluma and Rangiotu. The waters Avere subsiding this morning, but the main higliAvay, FoxtonPalmerston North, which has been under Avater in several long stretches Avas still impassable at noon, close to Rangiotu, where the Oroua River begins to converge o'n to the flooded ManaAvatu. Practically no stock losses harm occurred in this locality, settlers receiving ample warning through the drains and streams overflowing. Various tracts of land in the ManaAvatu Avere inundated yesterday, but the Avater Avas receding to-day and the position is rapidly returning to normal.

The Avater, Avhich crossed the Main Highway to' the north, tAvo miles from the city, has now disappeared, Feilding, AAvahuri and other roads are now clear. ,

A small loss of stock occurred near Bunnythorpe.