FLOOD IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 10

FLOOD IN THE SOUTH.

MAStERTON'S PLIGHT.

LOW STREETS SUBMERGED.

WATER INVADES SHOPS.

ELECTRIC LIGHT FAILS.

SLIPS ON MAIN ROADS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRFSS ASSOCIATION.] MASTERTON. Thursday. Following 36 hours' incessant rain, the low-lying portions of Masterton are flooded. The shops on the lower side of the main street are swamped in two feet of water, and extensive damage has been caused to Christmas stocks. Late this evening there was no sign of it subsiding.

The district was visited ■ with a severe thunderstorm and electrical activity lasting about, two hours, which added to the inconvenience by disjointing the electric service, the town being thrown into complete darkness.

Though the rain is not abnormally heavy it has not ceased for a moment in the last 36 hour .

At midnight rain was tailing heavier than at any period during the day. Five inches had been recorded then since 9 a.m.

Slips are reported on several ; rterial roads. The Rimutaka Hill road has been washed out for a distance of one hundred yards near the Featherston side. It is believed it will be closed for a v.eek. A considerable amount of traffic over it from Wellington bad to return on this account.

The Korarau Stream, fiom which the Wuirarapa power is derived, rose ';o an enormous height, and washed out the bank ut the side of tlie power house. This was the cause of the failure of the light, the machinery being submerged in four feet of water. It is understood that it will not be in action again fur two days.

COLD WIND WITH RAIN.

LOSS OF SHEEP HEAVY.

NO LIGHT FOR TWO DAYS.

[BV TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

MASTERTON. Thursday.

A bitterly cold southerly wind is blowing and losses of newly-shorn sheep are heavy.

The town's drainage system is unable to cope with the flood water, and as there is no immediate prospect of the rain ceasing it is probable that more damage will result.

Although a relief gang is now at work the lighting is not expected to be restored for at least two days.

DELUGE AT WANGANUI.

STREETS RESEMBLE LAKES.

CHRISTMAS STOCKS SUFFER.

MOTOR STRUCK BY TRAMCAR.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. J

WANGANUI. Thursday.

A torrential downpour this evening caused all the low-lying part of the town and suburbs to be flooded. The rain fell in sheets for a couple of hours and many homes found leakages.

A number of business premises were flooded, greatly to the detriment of Christmas stocks. In a leading drapery establishment the damage is estimated at several hundred pounds. ,

The sewers were unable to carry the water, the result being that many of the streets were like lakes.

During the height of the storm a motorcar coming in from Maxwelltown, and driven by G. W. S. Moore, collided head on with a tramcar. The rain was so dense that Mr. Moore could not see the tramcar coming. He tried to avoid the track and the motor skidded. The car struck the motor, which was badly crumpled up. No one was injured, though several passengers on the tram were thrown from their seats.

Though the river was not fit. for rowing the crews decided to contest the final of the Fitzherbert Fours. The race had just finished in favour of Thurston's boat, with Carr's boat close handy. The water was exceedingly rough. A wave caught Carr's boat, causing it to swamp. The oarsmen were precipitated into the river, which was in an almost flooded condition. Fortunately all could swim, and were rescued.