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AN UNEASY NIGHT

Hastings Swamped no serious damage From Our Own CorresDondent. HASTINGS, Feb. 19. The majority of householders in Hastings spent an uneasy night, the steady downpour of rain recalling to them the experience of three weeks ago. With very few exceptions they found, on rising early this morning, that there was considerable surjface water lying about their property. Fortunately the rain ceased early and enabled the storm water in the streets and channels to get away and clear themselves In time for the opening of shops. While a number of residents in very low-lying areas found themselves isolated by a sheet of water several inches deep, very few shop premises were affected, apart from minor leakages of flashings. Various parts of Heretaunga slxeet were completely covered with surface and storm water, from kerbing to kerbing, but with the cessation of the rain the waters quickly disappeared and by 10 o’clock in the morning the road surface was drying out. The worst affected areas in Hastings were in the east and south wards, where blockec. channels caused the waters to back up over the roadways and footpaths into private property. Several houses in Riverslea road south were surrounded by a miniature lake, many of the householders in this locality being alarmed at the prospect of their houses being flooded. Fortunately such a happening was staved off by the cessation of the rain. On the outslurts of ? the borough miniature streams were formed by the flooding of the open drains through the open spaces and alongside the roads. There was ample evidence that saturation point had long been passed, for there were wide stretches of surface water lying about. About the only section of the community that found any pleasure in the wretched conditions prevailing appeared to be the juvenile element, many members of which were to be seen thoroughly enjoying themselves paddling in the water and playing “boats.” “We all had our gumboots on this morning,” said a milkman, when commenting upon his experience during his daily morning round. “There was a lot of water especially in the streets, hi a number of places it was right across the roadways and flowing into the gardens. Intersections were the worst places, for there was banking up of the waters in the gutters, especially in the vicinity of culverts, many of which were blocked.” Another milkman, whose hobby was raising poultry, naturally had a thought for the household fowls, and he ventured the opinion that in the majority of backyard runs conditions were more suited to ducks than hens. “Very few fow! [-houses are watertight,” he said, “and last night’s rain would swamp them. On my round this morning I saw scores of woebegone looking fowls, and quite a number of fowlhouses were under water. “Dogs were unusually quiet and friendly this morning,” he added. “They too had not spent a very pleasant night and were glad of any friendly overtures and recognition” The telephonic service in Hastings and the immediate surrounding districts was not : interrupted, but the service out to Ws imarama was dislocated owing to the heavy rain and flooding experienced in that district Except for a brief cut-out at Havelock North shortly after six o’clock this morning, the power service throughout the Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board’s area was not interrupted. No trouble was experienced on this occasion through overhanging trees, but this was attributed to the fact that there was no excessive wind accompanying the rain. WORST FOR 20 YEARS AOZEN RESIDENTS AT TE VWANG A FLOODED HASTINGS, Feb. 19. Due to exceptionally heavy flooding in the Maraetotara stream, Te Awanga this morning suffered the worst flood known for the last 20 years. At least a dozen residences were flooded, the water rising well above the floors. The Clifton bridge is not passable and it is feared that it has been undermined. The Lagoon road was submerged to a depth of three feet and the flooding is very widespread. One settler states that last night’s hes.vy rain was about the worst she had experienced and about half past seven this morning the flood commenced and rose with great rapidity. The stream had a good mouth which had saved the position. No danger Was feared from the Tukituki river which was in moderate flood and had a good mouth.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19380221.2.15.1

Bibliographic details

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 2

Word Count
721

AN UNEASY NIGHT Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 2

AN UNEASY NIGHT Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 2