HEAVY INUNDATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 131, 5 May 1941, Page 8

HEAVY INUNDATION

RIVER AREA INSPECTED

ENGINEERS' VIEW FROM AIR

Just, 'before noon to-day Messrs H. R. Farquhar and A. P. Grant made an inspection of the affected flood area by air and the information they obtained" is that a considerable area has been inundated.

In the Woodville area considerable flooding has taken place, but the waters have now receded. The Pohangina, Oroua and Mangaone Rivers were not in high flood. Longburn is flooded on both sides of the ramp, the water coming in from below Waldegrave's Road. At Hamilton's Line the stop-banks have been considerably overtopped and the water extends from above the Jackeytown Road to the Opiki suspension bridge. 'Hie Taonui basin is extensively flooded for a distance of five miles in a direct line from the main floodgate. In the Makerua district the banks have held, but trouble has been experienced at the Whitanui , tramway gate. The river still threatens seriously iutho Lower Tokomaru district, near Kara Creek. Dr. Walls's stop-banks have been overtopped in the Moutoa but not breached. There is also flooding; near the Moutoa Hall. The land near Taupunga Point is covered, but the banks at Bryant's have held. Below the banks heavy overtopping has taken place to Kari Road. The banks in the Piaka area have remained intact although the peak of the flood in this area has not been reached. Flooding was just commencing in the Moutoa area above the Whirakino trestle bridge. The Buckley area was extensively flooded although no serious breaches were observed. At Parekawa Point the bank had been overtopped, especially below the Aratangata floodgate. Further flooding was expected as the peak period had not been reached when the inspection was made. Saywcll's banks in the Oroua sub-division had held and the area was not flooded, mainly through the Oroua river not being high. In the Hokowhitu water was still coming in. FLOODING AT WOODVILLE.

Early effects of Saturday's rain were felt on Saturday evening, when there was urgent need for the county engineer and road staffs to attend to obstructions in the rural areas. Yesterday and last night the flood waters from the Manawatu and tributaries had possession of a large area of the district, and though the waters have greatly receded it is impossible yet to assess the load damage. In conversation with the county engineer (Mr W. J. Hawkes) it was learned that so far the damage in sight runs to several thousand pounds. Several localities including Totara Road beyond Kumeroa are quite isolated bv slips and washouts. In another locality a stretch of four chains of river bank road has carried away and this and many other cases of extensive damage will involve engineering problems of considerable magnitude. There is also much surface damage in sight such as metal washed | away, but this class of damage cannot be fully assessed until the roads become clear of water. Mr Hawkes stated that many obstructed localities will be cleared temporarily to-day. It is pointed out that this trouble comes at a most inconvenient time as far as road repairs are concerned. Of the losses to the farming community, that of many stacks of valuable hay will be : felt severely. A very heavy loss was sustained by Mr W. Brotherstone, Ballancc Road, whose large shed was carried away with its valuable fodder contents. The building, intact with its contents, was observed floating under the Ballance bridge to enter upon its course into the Gorge torrent. Of more concern to Mr Brotherstone was the loss- of'2oo sheets of iron on the building. ' Many" houses on the Ngawapurua flats suffered much damage from water and silt, and the residents in this area spent a very uncomfortable night. Losses of stock", to what extent not yet ascertained, have also occurred in this area, the lower end of which is still extensively covered by an imposing expanse of water. Although the Gorge Boad was opened for one-way traffic this morning, after work under high pressure during the night, there is much work ahead for the repair gangs, not only in clearing extensive slips, but in repairing structural damage to the highway, as in several places, torrents caused damage, and there were breakaways below the road. The railway also was threatened by serious erosion in at least two places. On the highway, a steam-shovel is making good headway in clearing the largest fall which consists mostly of stone and large boulders.

According to markings observed this morning at 10 o'clock, the flood although still covering much country has' receded about 15 feet from the peak level last night.

THE RESCUE WORK

PART OF THE ARMY

"We are very, very' greatly indebted to the military authorities for their prompt and valuable assistance," said Inspector H. Scott this afternoon when reviewing the rescue operations which had been carried on at various periods throughout the night. "Without the aid of the military authorities we would have had to call on the Home Guard or the E.P.S. organisation for assistance, but the aid from the Armywas on the spot and the authorities were most anxious to co-operate. "Further, there were a number of civilians who did most meritorious work and they, also, arc deserving of praise." ROARING TORRENT.

When a police party, together with an Army officer, passed over the Ashhurst bridge at a late hour last night the water was running within four or five feet of the under side of the decking and the risk of taking a car across the bridge was so seriously considered that Inspector Scott proceeded across on foot and then waved the remainder of the party on when he found the structure safe.

The party were concerned with the safetv of the Cresswell family, who were isolated with about 200 yards of swift flowing water between them and

the eastern bank of the river not lar below the bridge. The risk of setting out on a military pontoon bridge was considered greater than allowing the situation to remain as it was, and instructions were' lett with the marooned people to- ask for help if the river showed signs of rising further. Actually no call lor assistance came and to'-day they were found to be quite safe. On the journey to Ashhurst the party found that "both the main highway" (near Whakarongo) end James's Line were blocked by the flood waters.

BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY

DANNEVJ RKE'S EXPERIENCE

(P.A.) DANNEVIRKE, May o. The heavy rainfall at the week-end in Dannovirk© and district caused the .Manawatu River and streams to carry an immense volume of waier. On Saturday and up to 9 a.m. on Sunday 4.64 m fell, and up to 9 a.m. to-day the total was 6.86 m. it is feared that stock losses in the vicinity of the .Manawatu River will be fairly heavy, as the water spread over a wide area of flat land near the riverbed. It is reported that Mr W. H. Gaisford. of Oringi, lost about 300 head of sheep. The only damage in the borough was the washing away of the footbridge in Princess Street. In Dannevirke County only one bridge was washed away, this being at Ngapaeruru. Many roads, however, are blocked for traffic in the Mangatoro, Ngapaeruru and Ormondvillc ridings of the Dannevirke County. Jn the East Coast area of Southern Hawke's Bay the rainfall was heavier and flooding of a serious nature occurred, being the heaviest in living memory. After a night of torrential rain in which 12in were recorded, the stock losses are expected to run into some thousands, hut details arc not available. The newly-constructed 100 ft Akitio bridge, five miles from the mouth of the Akitio River, and near Sir Alfred Ransom's property, was carried away at 8 a.m. Another 50ft bridge, also spanning the Akitio River, was swept away. This linked Weber and Wimbledon. It is estimated that the Akitio River rose 50ft in a few hours, this being 13ft higher than the record flood in 1937. At Hunter's mill, Waione. the mens' living quarters were washed away, also many thousands of feet of sawn timber. Most of the coastal roads are blocked by slips and some time will elapse liefore communication is completely restored. RESCUE OF FAMILIES.

An old hath figured in a spectacular rescue of a family marooned on Mr R. O. Christopher's property at Akitio. Mr and Mrs Cecil Gilmore and their two children were isolated by risinrt flood waters and they were ferried across the river one at a time in Hie bath to safety, Mr .G. Thomson performing an heroic task by swimming across the river with a rope. When they saw the waters rising the Benson family, living near the end of the Akitio bridge which was swept away, sought refuse on the top of a tall hayrick. Mr and Mrs Benson and a six-months-old baby spent some miserable hours in their uncomfortable refuge before they were taken to safety by men on horses. The flood waters were up to the roof of their house. In many instances families clambered on their house roofs with a few possessions, waiting for the waters to recede. Conditions improved considerably during Sunday nrdit with an easing of the rain. HEAVY PROPERTY LOSSES.

The heaviest flooding in * living memory resulted in serious damage to property and stock losses amounting to thousands, in the Porangahau. Weber and Akitio distric of Central Hawke's Bay, states a Press Association message from aHstings. Many people were driven from their homes hy flood waters and Porangahau, Weber and Hcrbertville are isolated. Road communication is expected to be reestablished within two or three days.

Maoris living in a pa in a low-lying part of the Porangahau township, escaped with blankets and a few clothes when the Porangahau River burst its banks at daylight yesterday morning. As far as is known no lives were lost but there were instances of people struggling to safety through rapidly (Using waters. In the 12 hours from 7 p.m. on Saturday at Weber. 12 inches of lain was recorded. Rivers in the district soon became foaming torrents and farmers had no chance of removing stock from the low flats. Tn some instances they abandoned their efforts to save sheep and cattle, in order to save the lives of their families.

The E.P.S. services came into operation in' Weber county and maintained communications, it is believed for the first time in the Dominion.

Although torrential rain fell throughout the week-end, no serious flooding occurred in the northern part of the province which suffered disastrous floods three years ago.

PORANGAHAU INUNDATED. (Press Assn.) WAIPUKURAU, May 5. It is estimated that it will be a week before the main road between Porangahau and Waipukurau is opened, as a result of the severe flood suffered in the district yesterday. In the meantime an alternative road, which is also blocked, is being cleared for traffic. The Porangahau River, which burst its banks near Porangahau and inundated the township, is subsiding, but is still bank-to-bank. Much stock was lost on the flats, but no damage was done to houses beyond the flooding of a Maori pa. As the waters receded a layer of silt about five inches deep was left in the township.

PLANS FOR RAIL TRAFFIC

DISLOCATION AT LONG BURN

(Special.) WELLINGTON, May 5. The latest information received" by Railway Department headquarters regarding 'the dislocation to traffic through the washout at the small bridge near Longburn indicates that until the flood subsides it will be difficult to effect repairs. Probably the extent of the damage will not be known for 12 hours. Therefore, throughout to-day and probably tonight, passengers will he taken byroad lvetween the Palmerston North and Linton stations. Trains will continue to run past Shannon, but close attention is being paid to the bridge between Koputuroa and Shannon which might be affected unless the floods subside. The damaged bridge near Longburn crosses what is usually a dry watercourse.