MASTERTON RAINFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22117, 24 May 1935, Page 12

MASTERTON RAINFALL

STREETS UNDER WATER damage not extensive FARM OPERATIONS SUSPENDED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] MASTERTON, Thursday Following on heavy rain throughout the night, a total of tlireo and a-half inches being recorded, a flood was experienced in portions of Masterton this morning. Water from the river broke the stop-banks in two or three places and several streets, including part of Queen Street and about five houses in Bruce Street, were Hooded. The Hood appeared to be at its peak at about '9.30 a.m., but three hours later it had almost disappeared. 1 Several cattle were rescued from a somewhat ' precarious position. The damage in the borough was not extensive.

A fair number of slips, but none of a very serious nature, occurred on Masterton county roads, although in two or three cases roads are blocked., A slip 11 miles from Masterton on the Mauriceville road completely blocked tho highway, but late this afternoon tho track had been cleared sufficiently for tho passage of cars. Water Invades Houses A considerable area of land was flooded near tho Weraiti road and a temporary bridge was under water. The far end of Dorset's Road is blocked through a culvert being washed away, and at Ngahape the approaches to a bridge were washed out. The Wangaetui road is also blocked by a big slip at Wai-iti, 16 miles from Masterton, while slips have occurred on the Cnstlepoint road. The Mauriceville and Kopuaranga districts suffered severely, the rainfall last night being probably the heaviest experienced there for many years. Considerable flooding occurred in low-lying areas, Kopuaranga Flats being all under water, which at the height of tho flood was Ift. deep in tho post office. Ihuraua Valley was also flooded. In Wangaehu Valley serious flooding occurred, in one or two instances water finding its way into houses, but not to a great depth. At Mauriceville Sin. of rain fell. Floods Now Receding

Dalefield is flooded, but the water is now rapidly receding. Water entered the house of Mr. C. Fairbrother at an early hour, the occupants being warned of danger by tho barking of dogs. Milking operations had to be suspended, it being impossible to get the stock up from the paddocks. The flood was at its highest at about 3.30 this morning, and was the most severe since 1918. All lowlying country carrier surface water, and low roads are quite impassable to motor traffic.

Railway services were not seriously interrupted. No slips occurred on Rimutaka Hill, but there was a minor one near Mangahoe tunnel, north of Masterton, a goods train being held up for a short time.

Although low-lying .land adjoining Ruamahanga River is flooded in places, notably at Tawalia, the lower valley escaped, the banks there proving capable of preventing any flooding of the area. At Tawaha a farmer had to rescue by boat a number of sheep that had been marooned on a high piece of land. The weather has now cleared and flood waters are receding. DAIRY LANDS AFFECTED SOUTH WAIRARAPA AREAS SLIPS ON COUNTRY ROADS [by TELEGItAI'TI —press association] CARTERTON. Thursday

A severe rainstorm visited the South Wairampa last night, 2.61 in. falling in the 24 hours ended at nine o'clock this morning. The rivers are all in high flood and to-da.v water was running across the road between Carterton and Grevtown, impeding traffic, but not stopping it. The hill roads in the county suffered from innumerable small slips, and bridges and approaches wero damaged. Dairy farms were flooded and great difficulties wero experienced by farmers in milking their herds and getting to the factories. Slips have occurred on the Rimtitaka Hill, but traffic has not been blocked so far. The Hinakura Road was blocked to-day by a heavv slip on the eastern side. Reports from the Maryborough district state that the floods are the highest since 1924 and damage has been done to bridges and roads. So far no stock losses have been reported, although in several instances sheep and cattle have been surrounded and isolated. The Dalefield cheese factory was to-day flooded to a depth of a few inches, and the waters m that district were the highest since 1918. The Matarawa Bridge, an old wooden structure, was reported to be seriously threatened.

GALE AT WELLINGTON CHIMNEYS AND FENCES DOWN RIVER RISES ELEVEN FEET [BT TELEGRAPH —FHKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday Wellington experienced a heavy southerly gale last night, but little rain fell in the city. There was a fall of Bin., however, in the catchment area in the Wainui and Orongorongo Ranges. The rough seas in the harbour damaged the Hutt Road and railway, interfering with the trains running this morning, but the normal service was resumed this afternoon. Chimneys, fences, trees, telephone wires and radio aerials were - blown down in the city and suburban areas. The Hutt River rose lift, above normal, but was falling in the afternoon. Water crossed the road at Silverstream. the steamer Maori > arrived from Lvttelton at her usual time, but the Matangi was an hour late in arriving from Nelson. i" LARGE YACHT ASHORE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE * - 4 WAVES IN PRIVATE , GARDENS [BY TELECRAPII —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday A large yacht broke adrift from its moorings at Evans Bay to-day and drifted down the bay until it went ashore near the Patent Sliji. The cabin and stern werq badly damaged. High seas were experienced at Petono in the vicinity of Patrick Street, and a quantity of seaweed was deposited over the sea wall. The waves reached the gardens of private houses, and timber was deposited along the beach.