THE FLOOD WATERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 August 1939, Page 10

THE FLOOD WATERS

AERIAL SURVEY. AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION’S ENTERPRISE. To ascertain the state of the roads the Manawatu Automobile Association yesterday chartered an aeroplane from the Middle Districts Aero Club to make a survey of the flood conditions existing in the Manawatu district. Tho chief patrol officer (Mr 11. R. I). Browne), who was the passenger in the Moth ’plane, piloted by FlyingOfficer I). Campbell, instructor of the club, commented to the “Evening Standard” later that it was a most efficient and quick way of gaining an idea of the conditions affecting tho various arterial routes. It would have taken much longer in a car. Definite information had been found as to what roads were open and which roads were inundated. Water had been seen on tho road to Shannon just above that town, which the patrol previously did not know was there.

Mr'Browne added that it had given him" a very clear indication of where the water was lying, and, of course, tho perspective was altogether different from that to bo obtained from the ground. The aerial tour was made over Bunnythorpe, Fcilding, the Manawatu Gorge, No. 60 highway to Shannon, Buckley, Foxton, Tangimoana, and the Itangitikci River. The time occupied on the journey was 1 hour 10 minutes! CONSIDERATION SOUGHT. ROUTE OF HEAVY VEHICLES. DAMAGE TO ROAD. Appeals are being made by the Public Works Department and the Manawatu Automobile Association to operators of heavy traffic vehicles to abstain from using the Ra ngitanc length of the main Palmerston North-Welling-ton highway wiiore at all possible. Flood waters have saturated tile foundations of tile road and lorry traffic would have a tendency to cause breaking up of the bitumen surface, with consequent severe damage to the road, it was stated to-day. Light car traffic is not expected to have any serious effect, although the Public Works Department is asking that this, with the motor-lorry traffic, should bo diverted to tho Palmerston North-Levin (via Shannon) highway. The Manawatu Automobile Association officials point out that tho alternative route, by way of Shannon, is shorter than the other, in addition to which a considerable length of sealing has been carried out on the firstmentioned highway. Flood waters blocked traffic on tho highway near Rangiotii this morning, and it could not bo stated how long these conditions would continue. Signposts were erected this afternoon at Foxton Line and at the Himatangi corner to divert heavy traffic from the Rangitane length by way of the Rongotea-Makowhai route, or viceversa. AROUND WOODVILLE. FARMLANDS INUNDATED. Although rain continued to fall at intervals on Thursday night, tho floods at Woodvilie have abated. Rivers and creeks rose rapidly in the afternoon, and there was a •sea of water* in all iowlying parts and across the various country roads and portions of tho main highways. Reports have come to hand of losses of lambs-on a number of farms. Mr A. C. Vowell’s home on Bloomfield Rond was surrounded by water. Tiie flood was at its highest during tile afternoon, and it 'was considered to have been the worst for many years. There was several feet of water in this locality, and two horses and a number of Mr Vowell’s dairy cows were marooned for several hours. In common with other flooded areas, the pastures are smothered with silt. The approach to a bridge over the Manga-atua creek, on Harding’s Road, on the Woodville-Hopelands highway, was scoured. Temporary repairs, however, have been effected, and traffic has not been dislocated. Only the tops of fences were visible on some of the farms between Woodvine and Dannevirke. A party of Dannevirke residents, wlio attended a concert in Palmerston North on Thursday, on bearing that the Gorge Road was blocked essayed oil the homeward journey to traverse the Pahiatun track. This, too, they found impassable, and they had the alternative of returning to the city or spending the night at Ashhurst. They chose the latter, and resumed their journey yesterday. The drama circle of the local "Women’s Division was billed to stage a plav at tho Dannevirke Division’s birthday celebration on Thursday, the producer being Mrs G. L. B. "Wliillans. Two of the company travelled by train, but the remainder- of the cast found that they could not make the trip owing to the flood waters interrupting motor transport. THE MATAROA SLIP. PARTLY CLEARED AWAY. Per Press Association. TAIHAPE, Aug. ID. Inquiries this morning revealed that the big slip at Mataroa had been sufficiently cleared to allow ot traffic. Through trains are running almost up to their normal times, although speed restrictions arc causing some delay. Reports to hand la.st- night were to the effect that the road and Tailiape was blocked by a fairly large slip at Hihitnhi. the blockage being likely to last for two days. Gangs arc still working on the railway, with the prospect of the workcontinuing all day Sunday.