DISASTROUS FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12584, 27 May 1904, Page 5

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

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; - GREAT DAMAGE AT WANGANUI. J TRRRIFIO VOLUME OP WATER. ; BUSINESS INTERFERED WITH. , / 'TWO HOUSES CARRIED AWAY. fjBY TFXnRn.VI'H.—TRESS ASSOCIATION*.] - WAKaANtir, Thursday. . >' The highest flood ever known is now run- » ning in the Wanganui River, the result of i warm rain during ; the last three days ; (during which 4in have fallen) melting the snow , on the mountains inland. -i The river is running bank high, and a terrific- volume of water is coming' down. " * • About ten o'clock last night there was a: sudden accession in volume, and in an hour Tatipo Quay was under water, which also : came some distance up the Avenue. - ,- The flood thi. morning was higher than ever, and there was no sign of abatement. Business in the lower part of the' town is suspended, ? and all the storekeepers : are : busy saving their stocks. * The river steamer Wairere- had an arduous passage from Pipiriki, being in great danger from drifting timber, of J which a large quantity is coming down.. She was considerably damaged. > ' A ferry punt at- Kennedy's was carried away, also several punts belonging to the rivet. From Wanganui to Eastbwn is under water, and the grounds of the houses there, including those of ■', Mr. Willis,VM.H.R., are under water. : The river bank 5 at Taylorville is continually falling, and two nouses have been ' carried away. /:;..;, ;■■ • •• ; Boats and carts!' afford the ": only means of communication. > Enormous damage has been ; done, but so far it is impossible to ascertain the extent. Traffic on the southern line is suspended, and there is no possibility yet o* ''communicating. Two piles are gone from Turakina bridge, but the structure, as far as is known, is still standing. . A small block in traffic at Waitotara, on the northern line, has been repaired, and trains are running' practically on time, Th* Hunterville line is blocked between Porewa awl Marten, and it is reported the bridge has been carried away. All the rivers in the district are in high flood. At 1 Wangaehu the hotel is flooded, and two bridges ovesi * the Mangawhero River are reported carried away. '-<:There is no sip, yet of the river falling, and: crowds of people are gathered; watching the flood, which presents a grand and awful sight. The water ■'•.'is. now, a foot above the 1891 flood mark. The currant is cunning 10 miles an hour. The town bridge ; is standing well in spite ; of the enormous pressure of water. There has been considerable loss of stock, but no loss of lire so far is reported." '■) DAMAGE SEAR. STRATFORD. A MAX BURIED. . [BT TFXKJRAPn, — ASSOCIATION.)! Stratford, Thursday. ■ The weather lias been' fearful for the last four days. The rivers are in high flood, and heavy slips are reported on the Wliangamoaion.* Road. Coach traffic has been suspended on the Tutu taw a Road. John Brown, a resident of ; Palmei'pton '. North, while : sleeping in a tent, was buried by ; ? slip. He wsa employed in building a bridge. There are no further particulars. THE afANAWATU RIVER. ? [BT TEUajRArH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] ,;; Palmebston North, Thursday. ; Heavy but intermittent showers of rain. have fallen during the morning, and thv weather is still far from settled. The Manawatn Rivet is iimniag very full, but the water is' still several feet ibelow pre-:•[; vious flood levels. 1 „ , , SETTLERS ELOODEL OUT. V :;■■: ';-;;>.■;'*; > S - ; '; ■;,■■--j.'. _, _ ,;;i,.i.,.. '.■■'• -:;; ,;• ..■■/■: .;; : '.'. -.. 1 FERRY WASHED AWAY. j [BY TEtEGIUPHr.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] '.} WKMJQfGTOSf,- Thursday. •At - Wangaehiii ; the river is two ; miles Wide, and in the hotel there are 2ft of water. , A largji number of settlers, who are flooded ~ out, are sheltering ere. At Hunterville the PoreWa River oyerflowed last night, and (the residents took shelter in the post office ■ and, hotel. Communication with there is , practically suspended. . The north trains are running' irregularly, owing to the Waitotara bridge beiufe injured. The sooth train was unable to get beyond Fordell, owing to the line being submerged for some miles. The HunterviUe traffic is suspended for the same reason. At Makirikh'i. the ferry is washed away, and that place is also cut off. The river steamer came> down yesterday at great risk, but was unable; to return to-day. >.■.;, There is no information as to the ' country bridges except that two small bridges at Mangamahu are washed away. . The weather is clearing, but it will be some days before normal conditions prevail. , PORTION OF MARTON UNDER " WATER. [BT TELEGRAPH. ASSOCIATION.] > MartQN, Thursday. Two days' continuous rain caused floods in the Rangitikei district, but th* extent of the damage is not yet known. The Hunterville train, with many passengers, was forced to return to Marton last evening, owing .to the line being under water for a great distance. The small streams in the vicinity of Marton were flooded, and one side of the town was practically under water. !; The Railway Department notify that owing to slips on the line south of Poro-'o-tarao passengers and goods will not be accepted for stations south of Te Kuiti until further notice.