FLOOD WATERS ABATING IN TB AROHA DISTRICT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6671, 26 July 1928, Page 10

FLOOD WATERS ABATING IN TB AROHA DISTRICT

. PAEMS SHTFEK' CONSIDERABLY. A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. fs: r. Per Press Association,^ •V 'I AUCKLAND, Last .Night. Te Aroha and surrounding districts are still seriously affected by storm and flood .waters although a fall of .almost 2 feet was recorded during'the day and islaudS arc fasti peeping ‘above the water in shallower portions of the flood. All day to-day there was no possibility pf road or rail- communication furthen than To Aroha from Hamilton and Auckland. Paeroa was isolated with 3 feet of Water over thh railway at MaUgajtifpre venting any investigation ■by break down gangs. Many travellers were held up in Te Aroha and many arc awaiting complete subsidence of the. waters.; This seems just a matter of time as the storm'has abated although the skie£ are still lowering, 1 ■ Gordon, Manawaru and their immediate* vicinities, have been very seriously affected, roads and bridges being swept away by the flood. Farmers, hayo suffered considerably and losses, ’‘although' small arc reported from many districts bordering oh the banks of the river. Slips ; havo occurred all over the ranges and ncwly-ffomed torrents have brought down huge tree trunks and wood on to the levels below providing a sight like some great wreck. The day was spent by many in clearing away debris as tho flood receded. Cars and lorries forged through the waters to the < arf stores salvaging skins and other goods. A large landslide occurred at Clarkin’s stone quarry causing great damage.' Fred Clarkin, son "of the owner, had a remarkable escape. He was clearing away wreckage bn top of the face when tbc whole side started to slip away. He could not reach safety and was 'Overwhelmed falling nearly,CO feet with the slip. Ho was buried up to the waist but miraculously no bones were broken although ho was, badly bruised and received minor injuries. A report from the Herald’s Paeroa correspondent states that there has been no rain there to-day. The flood in the Ohincmuri river has fallen about six feet. ••■ Railway service between Paeroa and Waihi was restored this afternoon and although the damaged portion of the line h a d to be slowly traversed the train was able to get through.