ANOTHER BIG BREAK IN OROUA BANKS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3477, 13 October 1926, Page 8

ANOTHER BIG BREAK IN OROUA BANKS

Silting Expected to be Very Heavy

FLOODS RECEDING SLOWLY

"With tho cessation of the rain, the floods in the Manawatu and Oroua rivers are receding slowly, and anxiety is at an end for the present. A large area of land in tho Tainui swamp area, and around Lockwood and Tiakitahuna, is still covered with water, and is likely to bo so until the Main drain can discharge it into the Manawatu. How long that will take, naturally depends on how soon the Manawatu becomes low enough for the drain to function. The most sanguine expect that it will be easily a week before tho greater part of the water is gone, and that it will take a fortnight to drain the lowest levels. It does not take much imagination to realise the effect of this upon those members of the farming community, unfortunate enough to bo involved in this surfeit of water. A Dirty Flood. Apart from tho general temporary inconvenience to the farmers thus affected, there arc two unfortunate aspects of tho present flood. The first is that the Oroua waters on this occasion wore exceedingly dirty, and a big deposit of silt is expected. If true, this will no doubt seriously affect hundreds of acres of grass upon which graziers wore depending for spring and summer fattening, resulting in a large loss to the district, which must inevitably be reflected in decreased business in Palmerston North. Another Break. The second unfortunate occurrence is another largo break in the stopbanks of tho Oroua adjacent to Gibbs' estate, and through which water poured on Monday, adding considerably to tho volume overspreading th« nearby lowlands. It is estimated that this new break is quite as extensive as that at Holden’s, and will be another danger spot when the next flood comes down, unless steps are taken to mend it. The Oroua has subsided to such an extent that water has now ceased to flow through tho breaks. As far as can be ascertained no dwellings were invaded on this occasion, the general estimate being that tho flood was four feet lower than in July. The Manawatu river at 5 p.m. yesterday was 6ft. Bins, above normal at the Fitzherbcrt bridge.

DAI MAGE IX THE POHANGINA ANOTHER “CLOUDBURST.” (From Our Own Correspondent,) An extensive washout on the road in the Pohangina township occurred on Sunday night, .leaving a gap about 20 foot wide and approximately 30 feet deep, completely disorganising all traffic. All over the county there are serious slips and washouts which will take some considerable time to put in order again. What was extravagantly described as a cloudburst at Pohangina last Monday occurred again on -Monday night at the foot of Stanton’s and Holly's hills and the homesteads were threatened with the rushing torrent. Being unable to cope with the water the culverts backed up th e streams which overflowed, causing furtho) extensive damage to the road and 1,8 the settlers’ properly mentioned. The culverts were at 10 o’clock yesterday morning running full, thus giving an idea of the volume of water coming down at the height of the downpour. The Ashhurst, Piri Piri and Komako mail service car was only able to proceed as far as Pohangina to-day.