Easter Flood Crisis Passes With Easing Of Storm Weather

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5618, 6 April 1931, Page 2

Easter Flood Crisis Passes With Easing Of Storm Weather

CONDITIONS AGAIN NORMAL. During the week-end tho heavy rain in the Wellington province, which brought with it serious flooding in the Otaki district, slackened off and fresh clanger to property was therefore averted. Railway Line Repaired. The damage to the railway between Otaki and Te Horo was repaired early on Saturday- afternoon and the first train to pass through was the New Plymouth express which passed Levin at 2.10 o’clock. The services throughout the district are now running without interruption.

Earlier on Saturday t-he two ex presses from Auckland went as far as Otaki where the passengers were transferred by road to To Horo. Passengers were also transhipped from the other end who intended going to Hawke’s Bay. At midday the water on the road, just south of Otaki had fallen to 8 inches. On tho Levin side there was quite a current flowing over the crossing and down to Otaki and cars were unable to get through. Mill Road Scoured. The water was then running down Mill road, leading into Otaki, and this thoroughfare proved to be so badly scoured that it resembled a river bed. Ruin had also been wrought in marketgardens in and around Otaki. Foxton Road Unaffected. Fortunately- for the northern portion of tho district, the Manawatu river did not rise as much as was expected and the Levin-Foxton road was free from flooding. It is now obvious that unless heavy rain falls in southern Hawke’s Bay the road will be back to normal this week. Body Recovered.

It is reported that the body of Mrs Ann Falder, who was drowned when thrown from the suspension bridge which collapsed at Rahui during the Otaki floods on Good Friday, has now been recovered. The deceased lady was found about a mile down the river from tho spot where she was precipitated into the waters. An inquest is to bo held. The River Subsides. When the Manawatu river rose four feet in five hours fro-m six o’clock on Friday evening last it was then indicated that heavy rain was falling in the Southern Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts and by noon on Saturday -t was recording S feet inches and had reached flood level.

By midnight, ho-wever, it was dropping rapidly and the gauge was then only 6 feet and by 6 a.m. yesterday it was again lower by six inches while at noon the reading was merely 4 feet li inches. The danger in this direction was thus minimised at an early hour yesterday-. Small Slips. Numorous small slips are reported to have fallen in the Manawatu Gorge, where boulders became dislodged from the cliff face, but the road remained opened to traffic. The heavy rain at Palmerston North ceased early on Saturday morning, a fall of 1.20 v inches having been recorded in seven hours.