PALMERSTON NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6325, 27 September 1907, Page 7

PALMERSTON NEWS.

DAMAGE BY FLOOD. BAD WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN. (From Our Own Correspondent,) PALMERSTON. September 26. The weather during the past two days has been mos> tempestuous. All last night a regular gale was blowing, with torrents of rain. Between three o'clock yesterday afternoon and nine o'clock this morning, the rainfall, as recorded at the local meteorological station, was 2,11 inches. The high winds have continued throughout to-day, and have made locomotion about the streets a matter _of extreme difficulty. At times the wind has swept down with hurricane force. Tho velocity for the twenty-four, hours, as shown. by' the anemometer, was 320 miles, but: - this hardly represents the full force of the gale, owing to the fact that •'•there were- many; periods of. comparative’calm. . . One result of the heavy rain has been that "water is now ‘lying/about in; all directions, even in the town. This is In part due to the fad that the continued wet weather of the past mouth' has-caus-ed the ground to become water-logged. The Manawatu river was reported this morning to be five feet above its usual level, while: the smaller streams in the district are all full to overflowing. In some of the outlying districts, at Rongotea and Kairanga, for instance, floods are reported, to hay© occurred, it being stated that residents in some parts have difficulty in getting -in and out of their houses.

DISTRICTS FLOODED. Inquiries this evening show that quite a wide area of Land hereabouts is more or loss under water. Considerable inundation has taken place in the - Kairanga, while a deal. of : country surrounding Oroua bridge is also-out of. sight. Near Jackeytown the Manawatu river has broken over in the same place as on previous occasions, and • l threaten© t to cover, the railway line at jthat ... point. The waters are now rising rapidly there, but, the evening train from Foxton got through all right. The overflow from the Mangaone stream has caused a flood in the southwestern portion of the borough. Paddocks there, are, completely covered with the flood'waters for some distance, and residents in the vicinity were glad enough this afternoon, to make, good their escape in cabs and other vehicles,. For a considerable distance the Bangitikei line is entirely out of sight, while at some points the water covers the road to a depth of fully two feet. The Manawatu, Oroua, and Kiwitea rivers are all in flood, and still rising, while the same remark applies to the lesser streams, such as the Mangaone, t th& Makino, and others. --The Makino, it is said, has reached a level not touched during the last ten years. RAILWAY TRAFFIC HINDERED.

The rain has caused delay' to the railway traffic in se'veral directions, owing to slips which have come down. A slip between Marten Junction and Hunterville has blocked trains running on that line, and all passengers have had to. tranship. An attempt is being made to clear the. lino before .to-morrow. Slips near Mangatainoka resulted in the Napier passengers for Wellington having to travel via Palmerston and the Manawatu line, arrangements having been made for the acceptance of their tickets. Several of the trains running through from the Woo.dvillo side have been very late in arriving here. The rain gives every promise, of continuing. The results will be serious unless there is a cessation shortly. THE PRICE OP BREAD. , Owing to the recent rise in the price of flour, the bakers in Palmerston have decided to increase the cost of the .21b loaf to Id cash and 4Jd booked. Similar action has been taken in Feilding. DRAINAGE BOARD.

At a special meeting to-day of the Sluggish River Drainage Board the special order striking a rate for the loan of £3015 for work on the main drain was confirmed. A general rate was also made for the 1907-8 period. It was decided to meet and hold conference with the Horseshoe Drainage Board re amalgamation. The meeting will be held at Bongotea early next nK-nth. The Stipendiary Magistrate to-day confirmed the ratepayers’ rolls for the Sluggish River,. Aorangi, and Makorua drainage district.