THE HUTT VALLEY

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12017, 20 December 1924, Page 5

THE HUTT VALLEY

RIVER IN FLOOD STREETS AND PADDOfcKS SUBMERGED IN WATER. ' MANY GARDENS DAMAGED. Yesterday the major part of the Hutt Valley resembled a large lake, and suffered a great' deal from the heavy rain and high velocity wind. The river iby 10 a.m. had risen no lete than 10ft--3m above its normal level, and was then Isin higher than at the flood of a few months ago and; within two feet of the record flood of 1915. The yellow swirling waters presented rather an awe-inspiring aspect beneath the various bridges, and furiously lapped the bunks on either. side. If the rain continues to-day it will cause the river to break into ground in certain lowlying parts, but , the, works Of the-Butt River Board will . stand a very much bigger rise yet before any cause for alarm is apparent. LARGE OF DEBRIS. Logs a® well as debris of all kind. Were brought down in the mud-ooionred river, wmcii in its very broadest part beneath the Hutt bridge completely covered that part of its bed usually dry, and was in parts -well up the bank. Near Melling the low-lying land between the stop-bank? was all under water early yesterday,; but during the day a good deal of it drained off! The paddocks, however, Were for the most part flooded and bedraggled domestio animals 'stood on high and dry land surrounded by small oceans of water. - Below the main bridge the recently-erected’ football gysnasium was a • sufferer, and the water came well over the floor.

WATER BACKS ON TO STREETS. The flood-gates of all the drains leading to the river were closed in the early nours of the morning by the river board foreman, and the water balked onto Lower Hutt Main street, Which in company with many other highways in the borough was inundated. Improvised bridges were erected in front of shops, but shoppers wesrta feW. The recent work at.-the TaitpGorge is holding well, but is under supervision as there. was a Wash-out here last flood. -MANY GARDENERS SUFFER. Gardena, especially rthoso of marketgardeners, suffered heavily, and they are in many oases under several incites of water. >.The heavy wind has-also caused no end of trouble, and throughout the whole district branches of trees and vegetation have been mercilessly dealt with.; It is feared the tomato crop, recently favoured with such good weather will suffer accordingly. There is a certain amount of apprehension at the Hutt in regard to the heavily flooded river, but unless the* rain- continues a® heavy as it waa all yesterday and the day before thtere is no cause for alarm. • The -stop-banks will' frustrate any efforts to break bounds on the part, of the water, and these are i all serviceable.; The River poard' foreman reported yesterday that the works were all .holding wolf. f * V PETONE ALSO SUFFERS. (V At Petone the weather has likewise left its mark-in the guise of flooded streets and over-taxed oujverts, which are doing their heist to oariy off surplus water. A part of Ridfer’s Crescent Was completely flooded, and was apparently caused through the blookage of a creek, which carries off much or the hill water- Portions of Richmond and Regent streets -Were also under water,, and in ,many localities the footpaths were covered with several inches. The recreation ground- being low-lying, has suffered a great, deal, and the caretaker declares that not-for 30 years has there been so much surface water about. RUMOURJMSPIJOVEN “HUTT VALLEY FLOODED.” ENGINEERS MAKE INSPECTION. ... It was reported in, .the city yesterday that the Hutt river had burst its banks near the Taita, and was flooding portions of the valley. The chief engineer of the Publio . Works Depart- ' mSnt, Mr F. W. Furkett, and, members of his staff motored to the scene of the reported trouble, hut found that nothing had happened, and that the river was in no danger of overflowing. ONDITIONSJN WAIRARAPA CARTERTON FLOODS RAIL AND ROAD TRAFFIC BLOCKED. , 'ttoimtaossy eeti j -leg CARTERTON, December 19. Ooudburts occurred in various parts of the district last night, preoeded by the most; violent thunderstorm expen enced for years. , At about 2 30 a.m. tbe water -from the two northern creeks converged; and ran through the town, flooding various dwellings, and one or two shops. Farms in the low-lying districts of Dalefleld, Belvedere, and Matarawa are inundated, and the road thereto is unpass able. At the Koniaran electric power-house the water caused, the current to be out off at 0 p.m. Later the weight of, water behind the unfinished dam caused the whole to wash' away, and the power-house was again badly flooded. It is possible there will be no power for three or four days. On the railway line between Carterton and Woodside there are three wash-outs, and no trains ran to-day, but it is expected that after five or six hours the time-table will be resumed. 1 , Read traffic is very considerably hampered, and on the Rirautaka Hiil there is a great washout 100 feet wide near the motor bridge. Traffic is entirely suspended. 1 , The Ruamatenga, at Papanui, overflowed, and the country is badly flooded. Losses- of stock are reported. At Kahutara the water is just up to the river banks, and breaking over. Settlers have all been warned by telephone, and though a record flood is expected it in not anticipated that stock losses will occur, though damage to fences is bound to take place. The rain has ceased for the time being, but ‘he weather is still threatening. ""