Stormy Weather In Manawatu District

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 194, 19 August 1935, Page 8

Stormy Weather In Manawatu District

HEAVY BAINS AND HIGH WINDS. Waterlogged and swept by strong westerly gales, lands in the Manawatu district are suffering as tho result of heavy rains during the past few days. Apart from other damage mortality amongst newly-born lambs has occurred.

Early on Saturday morning heavy Tain was experienced at Palmerston North and this came following a -wet period which had already saturated the land.

The Manawatu river rose to 7 feet 3 inches by 9 a.m., but at 10.30 o'clock on* Saturday evening it had increased to II feet 0 inches, falling again at mid-day yesterday to 8 feet 6 inches and by 7 p.m. to 7 feet 0 inches. With tho continuation of the overnight rain some of tho city streets were soon flooded and adjacent streams running bank high. The To Ivawau was threatening at Takaro, while evidence of erosion and subsidences on the banks of the Mangaone near Boundary road was noticeable after its third flooding this winter. The lagoon at Hokowkitu also filled Tapidly. Sports Fixtures Postponed.

For -the first time in a considerable period the Manawatu Rugby Union’s senior matches were postponed on account of the heavy grounds. Other grade games also had to be abandoned with tho exception of the Manawatu v. Horowhenua primary representatives' contest.

An Association representative match against Wanganui did not eventuate.

Loss of Lambs. With the land saturated throughout the district and paddocks in many places covered with surface water, there has been losses of lambs. Some about two or three weeks old were better able to face the adverse climatic conditions, but where lambing was in progress some farmers were not so fortunate.

Heavy showers of rain fell intermittently yesterday, but indications at sunset pointed to better weather today. Temperatures yesterday were cold.

Highways Are Blocked. On Saturday evening advico was received that both the Foxton-Levin and Foxton-Shannon highways wero block-

Th*e Whirokino section was covered by water and tho road contains many submerged holes. It is again impassable.

On the Foxton-Shannon highway water overflowed through a break in tho bank of the river about If miles above Coley's bend and the road became blocked. As the water in this locality runs away freely, however, it is expected that traffic will be able to get through to-day by this route.

This break in tho bank, however, relieved the pressure at Coley’s bend, a danger point that has caused the Makerua Drainage Board a great deal of anxiety of late. Thero is much storm water lying about tho lower end of the Makerua area, the drains being unable to cope with the excessive falls.

Approaches to two fords on the Pahiatua side of the Pahiatua Track are reported to he in a greasy state and causing minor trouble. Owing to the slips in the Gorge diverting heavy traffic to this track that road is being pounded by road-users. Several small slips have occurred. Half-way up the Fitzherbert hill, where the road forks beyond the new bridge to go to Tiritea, a wash-out had to be faced on Saturday. Due to seepage from the hillside, the edge of the road had caved in and a hole several feet deep and about 10 feet wide made its appearance, the railings sagging over the gully. Gorge is Negotiable. The work of clearing away the two large slips in the Manawatu Gorge has been held up to some extent by the adverse weather. Further small slips, though not of consequence, have occurred, and additional movements on the faces of the two big slips have brought down more earth and rock at these points. The authorities reported yesterday that tracks had been made around the toe of the two big landslides, and that traffic could use the road. Care is urged and it is added that those using the highway will do so at their own risk. The main slips have been flagged and at night will bo lighted; motorists being advised to stop and investigate before passing these danger spots. Small falls have occurred and these will not bo flagged or lighted. A small slip at 4.30 p.m. yesterday held up traffic until just after 5 o ’clock. Around the District. At midnight on Saturday the Oroua river at Eangiotu was commencing to spill over its banks in the vicinity, but the level, dropped later and danger was avoided. In the late afternoon the Mangaone stream overflowed near Bunnythorpo and.flooded the country to some extent. All over the Kairanga lakelets have formed and the land is saturated. At Kopano yesterday acres and acres of land were under water just past the Oroua bridgo near Rongotea.