BACK TO NORMAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2644, 12 May 1923, Page 5

BACK TO NORMAL.

FLOOD WATERS RAPIDLY RECEDING. STOCK WILL HAVE TO BE HAND FED. PASTURES SILTED UP. [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Lust Night. “ Back to normal,” Is the essence of reports received to-day in regard to districts affected by the Hood. The waters are receding and only the very low-lying areas are now carrying flood water, and, although the weather does hot appear to have “ taken up ” permanently, the rain iias held off and the only danger at the present time is from a north-wester in the hill districts. If suc(h a wind should get up, it would be serious, as there is a very large snowfall on the ranges, extending down into the foothills.

The Waimakariri River is normal at Kaiapoi, and the flood waters are rapidly draining away from the flats. All the houses are now approachable with gum boots. Thick deposits of silt have been loft in the houses, and much personal property has been ruined. With the better weather, farmers who have suffered losses, arc now able to ascertain the position. The greatest difficulty for many of them will be t'o find grazing for their stock, as the flood waters have left coatings of silt on the paddocks, which, during the 'winter in an ordinary year, provided a good bite of feed. Hand feeding of stock will have to be resorted to in many instances. POSITION IN MARLBOROUGH. GREAT DAMAGE TO BRIDGES. BLENHEIM, Last Night*. There is nothing now to report about the flood except reports from the Awatere and Plaxbourne districts. The flood in the Awatere River was, a sight never fo be forgotten. A seething mass of muddy water filled the whole river bed from bank to bank, running at a furious rate. The full extent of flic damage is not yet known,, but a good deal of damage is known fo have been done to the bridges. The approach to the Ure Bridge is in a shaky condition. The main bridge in the Linkwater district) was washed away, and the smaller bridge in the Cullensville Road was damaged, and is unsafe for traffic. Many acres of fine pasture are buried under silt, in some places to a depth of 2ft. NO FLOODS IN NORTH OTAGO. OAMARU, Last* Night. Although other parts of the Dominion are suffering from fierce storms and floods, the North Otago district has enjoyed a seasonable soaking rainfall, which is very welcome at this time of the year.