BIG FLOOD FEARED.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13109, 18 May 1911, Page 3

BIG FLOOD FEARED.

[United Peess Association.]

Cisborne, May 17. Just over a year ago Gisborne and the surrounding district suffered severely from the most disastrous flood ever experienced in this portion of the East Coast, and to-night unfortunately there is every prospect of a repetition of that catastrophci. Rain has been falling steadily since early yesterday without intermission, and at times with torrential force, with tho result that the creeks and rivers are in a state of high flood. The Wairoa rivor is the one which threatens danger to the Poverty Bay flats, and at the danger point at Waerengahika, where it burst its banks last year, the river is within six feet of the top of the bank and is rising rapidly. The settlers on the flats, warned by last year's experiences when stock was lost in great numbers, are engaged in moving their stock to the back paddocks, out of reach of the flood. In Gisborne itself in the streets thei running water is like mill races, and niany of the lower lying portions are inundated. Much damage is feared to the sewerage works, in course of construction. That rain has been accompanied by a heavy south east gale. Tremendous seas are reported from all along the coast. The steamer Victoria, which passed the East Coast at 1.30 p.m. from Auckland, had not put in an appearance at 9.30, and it is thought probable that she has dither put to sea for the night, or considering this port unworkable, has gone on to Napier.