TRAFFIC SUSPENDED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 22 April 1938, Page 4

TRAFFIC SUSPENDED.

LOSSES OF SHEEP. THE FEILDING DISTRICT. The heavy rain in the bade country above Feilding caused the rivers and creeks in the district to rise rapidly vesterday afternoon, and by nightfall some had reached alarming heights. The Rangitawa Stream, near Tokorangi, broke its hanks and flooded the countryside, while the Tokorangi and Stanway Roads were under water to a depth of 3ft and the metal washed away, leaving deep ruts in some parts of the highways. The streams were higher yesterday than they have been for the” past 30 years, and losses of sheep are reported to he heavy. The Oroua River at Aorangi was running bank high last evening, as was also the Waituna Creek. Parts of the road at Waituna were under water, and mail and newspaper contractors were unable to complete their deliveries. Ivawa Kawa and Awaliuri Roads were under water last evening, hut were clear again this morning. Mr J. Avery, of lioness’s Road, Awahuri, stated this morning that the stop-bank erected on the hanks of the Oroua River had proved effective and had prevented the flooding of the countryside near Awahuri, although it is understood that just below the abattoir the flood water from the Oroua River penetrated, but not to any extent. Oil barrels in the borough yards in Warwick Street were swept away when the Makino Stream overflowed in that locality, while in Denbigh Street the water in the Makino was up to the street level and the footpath was submerged lor a distance of some chains. This morning the level of the Makino Stream had dropped considerably, while most of the roads submerge*! yesterday were clear again. Further slips occurred on the I e Awa road and the road is now completely blocked. A series of slips above the water intake at Kiwitea threatens further difficulty in regard to Feilding’s water supply. Mr T. Tv. Hay (borough engineer) left for Kiwitea early this morning, but at noon had not returned to Feilding and the extent of the damage, if any, to the water system could not’ be ascertained.