TIMELY CESSATION

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

TIMELY CESSATION

Flood Danger Disappears NGARURORO’S SUDDEN RISE From Our Own Correspondent. HASTINGS, Feb. 19. Widespread and heavy rain again fell throughout the northern portion of the province overnight, but with the clearing of the weather this morning, all danger of serious flooding has disappeared. Rivers rose sharply during the night as they were fed from the surface waters accumulating from the three to seven inches of rain that fell in the various districts and watersheds, but reports coming to hand at midday indicate that the river waters are receding. Those engaged in the fruit growing industry are the worst affected by the latest deluge, for conditions are likely to be unfavourable for the harvesting of the export and local market erops for a few days. Tomato growers, too, afe heavy losers. The main highways are all clear, but a number of tho country roads are blocked owing to slips and wash-outs. The heavy rain during last night accounted for a sharp rise in the riven early this morning and flood conditions threaten in the Ngaruroro river, which at eight o’clock this morning at Fernhill had risen over seven feet. At eleven o’clock a further considerable rise had taken place, the water having reached tpe 11-foot mark and was still rising. At one o’clock the river wai reported to have dropped a foot At Whanawhana the rain was reported to have ceased but that there was still a large quantity of water to come down the river. At Pakowhai a considerable area is again in flood. The water began flowing through the uncompleted portion of the new bank at the main road shortly before 11 o’clock and in a short time many of the small orenard lands which were badly flooded three weeks ago, were again undei water, which was reported to be rising rapidly. A large area on the south side extending from the Poplar Avenue was also flooded due to an overflowing from the river from below Raupare. At one o’clock this afternoon th« Ngaruroro river had fallen about 12ina. and the dip between the bridge and the bank was again passable to motor traffic. At two o’clock this afternoon a considerable area which was recently flooded at Pakowhai was again under water. Mr S. Pedersen reported that at his residence the water was then about six inches off tjie level it reached in the flood three weeks ago. The water at that time had not shown any tendency towards falling. With the fall in the river at Fernhill, the water at Pakowhai was expected to commence receding late in the afternoon. Mr E. H. Beamish reported from Whanawhana that the Ngaruroro river, which was not quite so high as it was during the flood three weeks ago, started to fall again at nine o’clock thte morning, and that the position had definitely eased. The danger of flood in the Tutaekuri river was soon passed. The river rose eight feet at the Puketapu suspension bridge, but at nine o’clock at Dartmoor it was reported to be on the fall again. At the Washout the river was maintaining a splendid mouth - and no danger was threatened. At noon to-day Mr. C. Lassen, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, reported that any flood danger from the Tutaekuri river was passed. The river at Redcliffe had risen 10J feet and was remaining steady at that level. The fall in the river that was reported at Dartmoor had not had time to be noticeable in the lower reaches of the river. “The river has a wonderful mouth,” said Mr. Lassen. “The piles of the old railway bridge are getting a thrashing and some of them art gone.” Referring to the Ngaruroro river, Mr. Lassen stated that the road was impassable through the dip by the Fernhill bridge where the flood water was 18 inches deep. Early this morning, residents of No. 8 street, Marewa, Napier’s new suburb, looked out to see the southern end of the street completely covered with water, but, by 8.30 the crown of the road was clear, and the level was rapidly falling. The position was probably due to the fact that the borough*# itorm- water drainage system is not yet extended that far.