HEAVY RAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 27 July 1926, Page 5

HEAVY RAIN

NORTH ISLAND FLOODS , BOV DROWNED IN STREAM 2 (United Press Association.) WANGANUI. This Day. The floods had a fatal sequel at Ukoia, five miles from hero, where a boy named William Alfred Naughton, aged 11, was drowned in a swollen stream, which had risen over the main mid. He had been sent on a message to a store and failed to return, and searchers found his body 400 yards down the stream. It is believed be lost bis footing while travelling the Hooded road. IN THE MANAWATU GORGE IMPASSABLE PALMERSTON N., This Day. Since Saturday afternoon rain has fallen almost continuously in the Manawatu and adjacent districts. All low lying parts of the town are under water. All streams and rivers are in heavy flood. The storm is the worst since 1902. The Kawau stream broke its banks and flooded Takaro Park. There has been much erosion on the river banks, especially at Fit/.roy Bend, which is a source of anxiety and danger. The power line at Linston was washed out of position and a gang of men are engaged in keeping the cables clear of the water. Stock was seen floating down the river. The Oroua is in high flood. The Manawatu Gorge is blocked by slips and is impassable. The Paliintua. track also is blocked, so that communication across the hills is quite cut off. Cars are to be seen abandoned about the roads cut off by the flood water. IMPROVED POSITION IN MANAWATU PALMERSTON N., This Day Following incessant rain for nearly 48 hours, to-day broke fine. The flood waters in the Manawatu this morning had fallen a foot to 13 feet, according to the gauge at Fitzherberfc Bridge. A large area of the countryside is still covered with water, mostly caused by local rains and flooded .rivers bankinglip tributaries and drains. Most of the settlers took precautions to remove stock to high ground when the weather became severe, consequently the loss of stock is reported as not exceptional. In the borough a lot of surface water is lying about. The business area was not flooded,, stormwater conduits coping with the downpour. Advices from Rangiotu stale that the rivers there are still rising. A' house near the confluence of the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers was inundated and the occupants' bad to be rescued by boats.

MILES OF COUNTRY INUNDATED CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF STOCK FOXTON, This Day. A phenomenal rain storm during the weekgnd caused one of the biggest floods in the Manawatu for many years. Road communication is cut off by flocd waters. Railway communication between Palmerston North and Foxton was suspended. There are big washouts at Rangitane and Rangiotu, where the Oroua and Manawatu Rivers junction. A special train left Foxton this morning to render assistance to settlers. The country in this locality is inundated for miles. The bankfc at Yloutoa were washed away and a! settler’s home invaded. All the ffkxmills have ceased working. Considerable loss of stock is reported throughout the district. <' At present there is no indication of the flood subsiding. BUSINESS AT A STANDSTILL IN MARTON MARTON, This Day. The unprecedented rainstorm of the past- two days throughout Rangitikei resulted in Mart on being completely isolated.: The main highways on all sides are sovered to a depth of three feet in several places.. Washouts and slips: occurred and many narrow escapes are reported. Fortunately there was no loss of life. At •Curl’s Bridge a newspaper runner fell into a washout, and a rescuing motor car suffered the same fate. All the persons were extricated with difficulty. Business in Martori is'at a standstill. The main thoroughfare is covered to a depth of several inches. Business premises are cut off and cellars are flooded. Damage to the hotel is believed to be serious. A few motorists ventured outside the borough, but the roads a few miles beyond were impassable. •Both routes to Wanganui are blocked ami traffic to Taranaki is held up. The railway service also is delayed. All roads south are completely blocked. The lower part of the Rangitikei is inundated where, the river overflowed the banks, and many settlers are in grave danger. Several have left their homes. Stock was cut off by the rapidly rising water and losses will’ be heavy. The same story is told in all lowlying areas. Scenes of widespread desolation meet the eye from the highest points. There are mile? of water, with here and there stranded automobiles and isolated settlers’ dwellings, the only indications of ordinary life in this rich area. The rain ceased early this morning, and to-day is bright and fair. The total fall for two days is 4.31 inches. The estimated damage is several thousands. BREAK IN WEATHER AT TAUMARUNUI TAUMARUNUI, This Day The Wanganui River rose rapidly last night and overflowed on to the road at Piriaka. A break in the. weather has now removed danger of serious flooding and rivers are subsiding. Several slips are reported on roads throughout the district. SLIPS NEAR WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, This Day. Rain, which was so severe elsewhere, was not exceptionally heavy round Wellington but there was enough to flood the Ilntt. River, while on bulli roads leading out of the town slips have fallen and the route to the Wairarapa is blocked. Reports from Shannon state that it is impossible to get past, even by horse, without danger. The road bridge at Linton is seriously threatened, water lapping the floor hoards. In Wellington the rain lias eomj.letelv I cleared off and the day is bright and i si.irmv.