SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN MANAWATU RIVER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1936, Page 7

SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN MANAWATU RIVER.

THOUSANDS OF ACRES INUNDATED.

(Special to "Chronicle"). I PALMERSTON N., Last Night. A double disaster has befallen the farmers occupying lands in the low-lying area below Tiakitahuna, floods following upon the hurricane which swept the district on Sunday. The Manawatu river came up with sensational suddenness, a number of farmers being unaware of the danger that threatened them until they perused the newspapers yesterday.

It was just before daybreak that the river first started to flow into the Kangitane depression through the gap that has been left in the newly-con-structed stop banks. Then it commenced to flow over the top of the new bank at Morby's aad finally gouged out a gap of about 1} chains in width to pour through in a torrent.

The old watercourses were soon filled and houses and milking sheds became isolated in quick succession. Prom Buchanan's die Hood spread over Buick's and went on through Davies' to the main Foxton-Palmerston North road which was soon impassable. In places it is feet deep and lower down near Kangitane is going over the railway line into the Tainui basin which is also a sea of water.

The biggest sufferer is probably Mr Haldane McEwen. He shifted his sheep from the vicinity of the river bank nearer his homestead but it was not long before the whole of his farm was covered and yesterday afternoon his flock was standing in water even on the higher parts of the property. He has lost a number of sheep drowned, but exactly how many he does not know at the present time.

The sheep, however, art uot his only loss. During the height of the gale on Sunday, Mr McEwen's large woolshed collapsed and sacks of grass-seed stored inside were completely spoiled. There is not a blade of grass to be seen on the Edwards's farm facing the Foxton highway, the water being up to the doorstep of the house while the milking shed floor is covered. The herd ■was to be seen standing in water.

The major portion of the house occupied by Miss McEwen on Hamilton's line was unroofed. Mr Davies' implement shed came down and Mr Buick also lost a shed. Several verandahs •were levelled. A large pine tree crashed on the window ol the house alongside the dairy factory.

Food had to be taken to the marooned houses by wading through the flood as it was impossible to reach them by

vehicles.

There is greater danger of the stopbanks giving way with a sustained flood and- the fact that the river kept at a high level for so many hours, caused added anxiety for those living under the danger points. The peak was reached about 9 a.m. when the gauge at the Fitzherbcrt ~ bridge read 15ft. ■pins, and this level was held for about three hours. In the early afternoon there was a drop of a few inches and then the fall became more noticeable till at 9 p.m. last night it was down to 11 feet.