THE FLOOD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3549, 12 October 1926, Page 3

THE FLOOD.

NO SERIOUS DAMAGE RECORDED.

The recent heavy rains culminated in a flood, which right up until late last night, when the waters be-, gan to subside, was thought would be a repetition of the disastrous July flood. A tour of inspection of the Moutoua district yesterday by our representative showed that conditions were serious. At about 11 a.m. the water was practically up to the/ top of the flood bank at Poplar and along further, at Moutoa, the water was trickling over Smith’s bank. At Whitaunui the river had backed up the water in the drains at the mill and the engine room and portions of the mill had a few inches of water in it.

On the return journey, an hour later, the water was pouring over the banks in many places from Smiths to Poplar. The road in front of Mr Smith’s house was covered and Poplar road had several inches of wale A over it.

The water rose until it covered the Moutoa. road almost up to Mr Boswell’s house last night but according to a telephone message from the Poplar mill this morning had got away quickly and the road was clear again, the river having fallen rapidly during the night. No damage was done and all the banks stood the strain. All danger of a serious flood is now over.

The Whirokino road had a little water over it yesterday on the Levin side ofl the road, but was passable for motor traffic. The Foxton-Bulls road suffered considerably from surface water. At Oroua Downs the road was/ covered for some distance in front of Mr Robinson’s house, with two foot of water and further on there was another bad strip." Several cars encountered trouble in this locality yesterday and had to be towed through the water. A little past the plantations, opposite where the old Chinese gardens were between Motuiti and Himatangi, the road is badly washed out and all along this route the metal is badly “holed” through water backed up on the railway side of the road seeking the lower level on the other side of the metalled road*

The road in front of Kellow’s Line, Rangiotu, is badly washed out. LX AND AROUND THE BOROUGH Frances St. again suffered badly from surface water, owing to the drain pipe being inadequate to cope with the water. Houses were surrounded by .water and in one or two instances the dwellings were invaded. Mr Parfitt’s house had about six inches of water in it yesterday and the family had to be removed in a dray to a neighbour’s residence.

Johnston and Cook Streets were flooded on Monday night and here again houses were surrounded by surface water. This quickly subsided however, and no damage is reported. The top end of Russell St. and Union St. were flooded, while the low-lying parts of the Avenue and Norbiton Rds. were inundated.

“Du'ckboards” and gum-boots were'in evidence in many parts of the borough yesterday. Whitaunui’s scutching sheds on, the Shannon road, were flooded and the paddocks resembled huge lakes yesterday.