HEAVY RAINS OVER RANGE CAUSES MANAWATU TO FLOOD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6911, 17 May 1929, Page 8

HEAVY RAINS OVER RANGE CAUSES MANAWATU TO FLOOD

Tiakitahuna and Rangiotu Districts Deeply Inundated RAIL COMMUNICATION WITH FOXTON INTER'UPTED

Following the continued rise in the icvel of the Manawatu river on Wednesday night, the possibilities of flooding in the Rangitane and Tiakitahuna Instincts were realised when the river broke its banks at about 2 a.m. The break took place at the roar of Mr. 13. L. Morley’s property at Tiakitahuna while further down near Mr. Herrick’s farm, water flowed out to flood the countryside over an area of approximately 10,000 acres between Tiakita huna and Bangiotu. The water followed very much the same course as during the November flood of last year and flowed across the main Foxton road at approximately the same point. Three-quarters of a mile south of the Tiakitahuna railway siding the encroaching flood covered the railway line and with an average depth of eight inches above the metals for approximately three miles, the continuation of the Palmerston North-Foxton train service became impossible. The Railway Department advises however, that trains will probably get through in the morning. With rail and road traffic interrupted Bangiotu townshop was cut off from communication with Palmerston North except by a devious Touto through Bongotea and Glen Oroua. By means of the Manawatu-Oroua Bivei; board’s newly installed electric flood recorder at the Fitzherbert bridge and with the Times’ reports of the heavy rains across the range, settlers early became apprised of the danger threatening t£em and removed stock from lowlying areas. As a result of these precautions no stock losses of any OZQ are reported, the chief damafg being to the winter feed growing ow this extensive area. It is impossible to assess the damage at present but according to settlers in the affected district the conditions and extent of the flood are very much the same as those marking the inundation of last year. Around Bangiotu. The rise in the Manawatu naturally backed up the Oroua which broke its banks at Lockwood about 7 a.m. A visit to the locality at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, however, showed that the water was gradually receding. Bangiotu township itself escaped the flooding which fell to its lot in November. Although the surrounding country towards Palmerston North was a vast s' cet of water, the flood had not encroached upon the township, unpleasantly closo as it was. On the main road between Tiakitahuna and Bangiotu several settlers were-forced to leave their ■ homes, among them being Messrs Strawbridge, W. Hill, D. Alvo, McCullen, Bussell, Harrison and Lett. Yesterday evening the inter was subsiding although it was stated there was still a depth of four feet at the Half-crown bend. At Tiakitahuna. 'According to settlers in the Tiakitahuna district, the Manawatu riyer broke its banks at the rear of Mr. B. L. Morley’s property about 2 a.m. yesterday. At the spot whero the river came over there is a depression which led the flood water into the lagoon on Mtj D. Buchanan’s residence. In this lagoon the water rose steadily until it trickled across the Jaekeytown road in ever increasing volume. With the Manawatu still continuing to flow through its break, large areas were gradually covered until yesterday afternoon water was flowing through the fence on the side of the Foxton road into the main drain. The drain itself was full to capacity and was carrying a large volume of water into the main flooded area between Tiakitahuna and Bangiotu township. Jaekeytown road past the Tiakitahuna factory was covered to a considerable depth in various places and suppliers bringing their milk to the factory found the water up to tho girth Of their horses. Only horse drawn •vehicles eould use the road between the factory and the river, it being impassable to cars. Several houses were surrounded by areas of flood water lying in the depressions, Miss Edwards’ residence on Hamilton’s line being completely cut off. A fair number of suppliers to the Tiakitahuna factory were _ late with their milk owing to difficulties created by the flood, but in only one case, that of Miss Edwards, was a supplier unable to communicate with the factory. On the main Foxton road the water had flowed across at very much the same place as during the November flood. From about a quarter of a mile south of the Tiakitahuna railway siding the road was covered to a varying depth as far as Bangiotu bridge. On cither side of the highway the flood waters, muddy and turgid, stretched for miles with the Tdack lines of fences I and trees breaking its surface. Large numbers of cars were held up during the day and were obliged either to turn back or take the route via Bongotea. Bailway Flooded. Gangers returning from an examina-! tion of the railway line stated that several small washouts had been noticed while the approximate length of the permanent way under water was about three miles. No rails had been damaged, however, and at 1 p.m. they had observed the water to be receding. The actual damage to tho permanent wav eould not bo ascertainable until the flood level sank still further. At 3 p.m. an average depth of eight inches of water was covering the sleepers.

Bangiotu Floodgates. Settlers considered that tlie floodgate at Bangiotu had had a very beneficial effect in restraining tho flood waters and expressed the opinion that otherwise a much larger area of land would have been under water. Beports from Bangiotu yesterday wero to the effect that the river was over 16 feet high there during the morning, and a further rise was expected. So far as could be learned, all stock had been removed to places of safety before the height of the flood was reached. It w r as stated that settlers at Eangitane were suffering the most, while the Main Drain road was deeply covered with water. Mr. J. Lanklatcr, M.P., visited tho township to inspect conditions, proceeding to Bangiotu by the route through Bongotea. Big Break at Moutoa. Tho Moutoa area was deeply flooded as the result of a dangerous break below the old bridge site. Mr. W. S. Carter, chairman of the ManawatuOroua Biver board, who visited the area yesterday afternoon stated that ho had never seen a greater overflow than was pouring through this breach. The break was from two to three chains in length and he considered that the river would have to fall three feet before the flow through the breach would cease. The Moutoa swamp, he stated, was a sea of water while the flooding had been still further increased through the river spilling over the bank at the Poplar milL Before noon, however, this particular overflow had subsided and late in the afternoon had practically ceased. Tho whole of the Moutoa area was flooded with the exception of the river bank but so far the level of the water was about 18 inches below that of tho November flood. Settlers in this area had removed their stock in time but in one or two cases animals are reported to have been lost. Makerua Bank Breaks. The Makerua bank also broke at Coley’s bend near the mouth of the Tokomaru stream, caused by the erosion of the river undermining tho bank. The result was that the area behind the main drain is flooded and the water moving down towards Whitanui. The break in this bank is about n chain wide and a considerable volume of water was pouring tnrough yesterday afternoon. The banking has been swept away down to the level of the river’s natural bank and it is considered that the overflow will continue until the level of the Manawatu falls a further three or four feet. Palmerston North Biver District. During the day many people _ visited the Fitzherbert bridge to view the swollen river. It was evident during the afternoon that the level was slowly falling and general relief was felt for the threatened sottlers on the low lying areas, below the town. The Palmerston North Biver board’s protection works stood the test well and with the exception of some damage to two of the original groynes at MeKae’s bend, the engineer (Mr. E. Fisher) had little to report. The diversion channel at Fitzroy bend took the extra volume of water very well and both Mr. Fisher and Mr. J. B. Hughes (borough engineer) are of the opinion that the main course of the river may set through the diversion when the flood subsides. The run round the Fitzroy bend was very sluggish considering the level of the river. There has been no extensive erosion and while tho portion at Mcßac’s will require somo attention, the protection scheme generally has met the position well. Biver Levels. As recorded by Mr. E. Fisher, engineer of the Palmerston North Biver board, tho Manawatu commenced to rise at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday when it was at a level of Bft. 9in. At 12.30 p.m. it had risen to 10ft. 6in., at 3.30 p.m. lift. 9in., at 5.-15 p.m., 13ft, and at 9 p.m., 14ft. During the flood of last November Mr. Fisher had placed a batten on the Fitzherbert bridge to mark the peak of the flood level, which in this case was 14ft. Gin. Somewhere about three o'clock yesterday morning the river touched this mark but thereafter commenced to subside and by 2 p.m. yesterday had fallen two feet. Heavy Rainfall. The inundation of the Tiakitahuna and Bangiotu districts may be directly attributed to tlie heavy rains across tho range and in the watershed of the Pohangina. Only 2.9 inches of rain have been recorded by Mr. T. B. Moore of Waimarana, Terrace End, sinco the beginning of the month showing that I the district rainfall can not have contributed to any great degree. Also the level of the Mangone stream which is a fair indication of the rainfall in the Palmerston North-Fcilding area, is not a gTeat deal above its usual winter average. Pohangina Floods. The Pohangina district has suffered to some extent through the flooding of the Pohangina river, which joins the Manawatu at Ashhurst. Bains have been heavy in tho Pohangina watershed find yesterday the tributary was carrying a very large volume of water. Near the residence of the Into Mr. F. W. Arbon at Komako, the approach to the bridge over tho river was washed away for a distance of about 30 feet. This has rendered the road impassable

until a temporary structure is erected. Low lying areas in the Pohangina area flooded to somo extent and the road between Baunui settlement and Baunui bridge was yesterday flooded to a depth of two feet. However, reports last evening indicated that in this district also the waters were receding with the fall of the river. THE EIVEE’S pall. The post office’s electrical gauge connected with the Fitzherbert bridge showed that the river fell slowly but steadily all day yesterday. After remaining at 13ft. 9in. from midnight to 7 a.m., it fell to 13ft. Cin. at 10 a.m., and by 2 o’clock this morning was down to Oft. ODOTJA BISING. Tho Oroua river was running high yesterday and is still rising owing to tho heavy rains up country. A piece of bridge decking about 20 feet long has been brought down and washed ashore at the abattoir property. It is surprising that this should have been carried past the Aorangi bridge. So far, it has not been ascertained whero the decking came from.