POSITION IN MANAWATU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 8

POSITION IN MANAWATU

LOW AREAS inundated. SETTLERS REMOVE STOCK. TRAIN FAILS TO GET, THROUGH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Monday. Exceptionally heavy rain has been falling almost continuously since Saturday and a flood on a large scale is feared. The rainfall for the 24 hours up to nine o'clock to-day was 2.45 in., making a total of over three inchoe in less than 48 hours. Already several low-lying portions of the district are under water. Stock has been removed by the settlers as a precautionary measure. The Kawau Stream had almost reached the level of the Boundary Road Bridge yesterday afternoon and a large area in that vicinity was inundated. In the earlv hours of this morning the stream had broken through in several places in the borough and as the Mangaotie had also overflowed its banks the neighbourhood speedily assumed the appearance oi a lake.

The surface of the Rangitikei line just over the Mangaone River was being swept to-day by a stream some two chains wide and several inches deep. Tha settlers in the vicinity were hastily removing their stock to higher ground. Low-lying land round Takaro Park suffered severely in common with other parts of the borough and to-day surface water is to be seen on al! sides. On the site where preliminary operations in connection with the new station were commenced some time ago a sheet of vater has collected. A house on the corner of North Street and Boundary Road is isolated.

The River was in high flood to-day and was carrying a considerable amount of driftwood. As far as the eye can see it is a rushing torrent of discoloured water bearing trees and general debris.

The Oroua River is also in high flood. Drivers of service cars state that the road between RongoU a and Palmerston Nortli is under water in several places. The main drain has broken its banks near Tiakitahuna and hundreds of acres there are inundated. In the opinion of settlers of Glen Oroua the conditions have not been so bad there for over 20 years past. Shortly before five o'clock this morning the power line crossing the Manawatu River at Linton was carried away for the Sfcond time in a few months. "At the Foxton Wharf the Manawatu River is 10ft. above normal and is still riring rapidly. The road to Palmerston North is impassable. A train which left Foxton shortly after one o'clock could not get through and was obliged to return after reaching Rangiotu. The flood-waters in places were up to the level of tha carriage steps.

Latent reports state that a large number of cattle have' been seen floating down the Manawatu River.

ON THE MAIN * TRUNK. TAUWARUNUi AND TAIHAPE. L. . * NO SLIPS ON LINE REPORTED. fBY TELEGRAPH. —OWN WItSESPONDENT.] • TAUMARUNUI, Monday. Rain is falling shows no signs of abating. The rivers are giving indications of flooding and it is thought that if the conditions continue throughout the night the Wanganui River will threaten to overflow its banks. The Ongarue River is swollen, but not dangerously, .so as y<st the rise in the rivers has been steady and, the Borough Council officials are keeping them under observation. No slips have been reported on the Main Trunk railway line. Slips occurred on the Wanganui River. Road over' the Victory Bridge, but the road is still passable. The Taringamotu Stream is again in high flood, but so far the newly-erected bridge has withstood the flood waters. TAIHAPE, Monday.

A heavy downpour of i-ain commenced on Saturday evening after, a sultry day and has continued almost incessantly ever since. The Hautapu River has risen well above normal. There is no sign of the weather clearing. RAETIHI, Monday.

Heavy rain set in on Saturday night. For the past 24 hours the fall has been 3iin.

WESTERLY DISTURBANCE. HEAVIEST FALL ON COAST* LANDSLIP IN TAITA GORGE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The westerly disturbance which has been enveloping the Dominion has been responsible for rain generally, and in some places the downfall has been considerable The southern portion of the North Island has experienced the heaviest fall, Mangahao registering a little over Tin. during the last 48 hours. Foxton recorded 4in. and Wellington got off lightly with only half an inch. The west coast of both islands received the. heaviest fall the rain being fairly general. Rain fell heavily in the upper reaches of the Hutt "Valley last evening, and the river this morning was Bft. above normal and wa.i still rising. No damage of any kind was reported. The work at the new railway bridge is, of course, suspended but so far no material damage has been done to the plant or work in construction. Another slip came down in Taita Gorgo last night, spreading out over the roadway, but not sufficiently to hold up traffic. The spoil is being removed without delay.