DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 10

DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

POSITION IN THE MANAWATU. THE WATER SLOWLY FALLING. SETTLERS GO BACK TO HOMES. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Friday. Though three days have elapsed since the flood waters which swept many parts of the Manawatu. district reached their maximum height, there are still thousands of acres of land deeply covered by water. The main road to Wellington via Linton is still impassable to niotor traffic, although, it may be clear to-morrow. Road access to Wellington via Foxton is also impassable by motor vehicles. Everywhere, however, the water is receding slowly and settlers have been able to return to their homes. At Shannon the flood level is much lower than yesterday, although the water is sinking slowly, due to the huge accumulation. About a mile of the main Wellington to P'almerston North Road is submerged to a depth of 3ft., but the fact that horse-driven vehicles got through to-day indicates that there wore no serious washouts and that possibly motors might negotiate that stretch to-morrow. None of the flaxmills will recommence operations before next week and it might bo a fortnight before some of them are again operating to full capacity. The water continues to recede about Rangiotu. Volunteer boating parties are assisting settlers to return to their homes, to clear them of silt and generally to put matters right. Farmers whose places have been flooded lost practically all their pigs and cattle. The losses are reported to be not extensive, but the mortality among sheep is heavy. CAPSIZE OF A CANOE. FIVE OCCUPANTS RESCUED. POSTMISTRESS SECURES HELP. [by telegraph.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PALMERSTON NORTH. Friday A dramatic incident during the flood occurred at Rangiotu on Tuesday night when the action of Miss King, the postmistress, resulted in five men oeing saved from almost certain drowning. At 5 o'clock Messrs. Roa Larkins, L. Interest, P_ Fawcett, M. Mason and Carkeek set out in a Maori canoe to rescue some animals that were in danger of being swept away by the flood waters. Upon reaching the animals the canoe capsized, and the men were plunged into the water in the darkness. They were swept to some willows, the hanging branches of which afforded a temporary handgrip. Their cries for help were heard by Mrs. Barnes, who telephoned to Miss King at the Rangiotu post office. Miss King immediately called a number of men and provided them with a boat which had been brought from Foxton early in the day. The party, guided only by the cries of the merij found them and got them ashore.