FLOODS IN THE NORTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17325, 27 May 1918, Page 4

FLOODS IN THE NORTH

WANGANUI RIVER VERY HIGH. SHIPPING DISLOCATED. (From Och Own Cobbespohdkht ) WANGANUI, May 25. Very heavy ram has fallen during th< past two or three days, and in consequence the river is in a state of high Hood. At high tide last night the water was only live foot below record flood mark. Advice from the hinterland indicate that heavy rain has been general, and that the river at Pipiriki appears to be still rising. A report trom Taumaranui states that the Wanganui River was flooded to such an extent that work on the new traffic bridge had to be suspended. Shipping has had an anxious time, and several small boats got adrift. One large launch broke awav near Putiki, but was rescued! before the mouth of the river was reached. Owing to the river running so swift and high, the river steamer will not be able to make the up-river trip on Monday, and it is a noteworthy fact that this is only the second occasion in 25 years that Hatriek's fleet of steamers has been unable to negotiate the river on account of floods, and the largo quantity of logs and other debris being brought down. There are a couple of vessels held up in the harbour on account of the flood and 1 bad weather. MASTERTON'S EXPERIENCE. PORTION OF BUSINESS CENTRE INUNDATED. LARGEST FLOOD SINCE 1884 (Pib Ukitid Pbess Assooutiok.) MASTERTON, May 25. There is a very heavy flood i n Masterton. The Waipoua River broke through at Masterton at a late hour last night, flooding a big proportion of the business centre, the water being two or three feet deep. The fire bell was rung at 1 o'clock this morning to warn people of danger. There aro hundreds of people in the streets, rendering assistance whore needed. It is the largest flood in Masterton since 1884. Heavy rain fell for hours, and thero was a terrible thunderstorm. Tho flood water receded at 2 a.m. today. and the danger is now over. Heavy loss has been caused. A NIGHT OF TERROR. .Later particulars show that the Waipoua River broke through in two places. For about four hours tho situation was very serious. About 1 o'clock, when tho firebells rang to warn peoplo of danger, in Hope, Wrigley, Albert, Queen, Ilall, and Villa streets there was a sea of water, which was quite three feet deep in places. Business peoplo whose premises wero in danger were communicated with, and with bands of residents commenced the work of placing their stocks beyond tho water. Householders wero kept busy removing their liousehojd goods to safety and takingother precautions against a flood. The conditions at times were terrifying, owing to the heavy thundorstrom and vivid lightning. It was a night of terror, and as each hour passed' the situation becamo worse, and tho lower part of the town was in danger, bcinjj almost completely inundated. Fortunately about 2 o'clock the water commenced to recede, and by 3 a.m! the worst was over. Some of the streets were raging torrent* of water. One house near tho river had four feet of water in it. There was a good deal of alarm among the residents as the flood waters gradually rose. The rain came down in sheets, and the indications were that tho flood would increase, but fortunatelv the storm abated and the conditions improved from 2 o'clock onwards. Reports from the other parts of the district announco heavy floods.