OPEN ROOFS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 2 October 1934, Page 8

OPEN ROOFS.

Rain Pours Into Houses at Carterton. NO ELECTRIC LIGHT. For Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 2. Many people in Carterton last night had an uncomfortable time. Frequent heavv showers were experienced and rain poured into dwellings through the open roofs. However, there was practically no wind, but the town was without light, except for candles. Power was restored by eight o’clock this morning. Business people set to work earlv today. They were seen carrying sheets of iron from surrounding paddocks to their business places. The weather was fine, with occasional, light showers. South of Carterton the road was still under water at many places, but the floods had subsided considerably since last night. The Waiohine River covered the road to a depth of about six inches, but cars were able to get through. Relief gangs had cleared the trees from the roads, but wires are still hanging from telegraph posts. Paddocks all down the road were covered with pools of water. At Featherston, there was only aq inch or two of water on the road at each side of the town. The Rimutaka road is clear. Men were engaged clearing slips, and cleaning out water-tables. Some small boulders on the road had to be avoided. On the southern side of the range a heavy southerly wind, with heavy rain, was encountered and visibility was bad. At Kaitoke. the Lower Hutt River was flowing swiftly and considerablyr above normal, but it still has to rise a foot or two before it covers the road. At Silverstream the creek coming from the hills covered the road to a depth of six inches. Cars were able to negotiate the section with care. Low-lying ground on all sides is under water. “PEOPLE AGHAST.” Visitation Was Terribly Severe. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 2. Advices from Masterton state that Monday’s storm did damage to buildings and other property running into many thousands of pounds. Some hundreds of houses in the affected area had their roofs torn off and many larger buildings suffered similarly. At the height of the storm, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., sheets of corrugated iron and debris of all kinds was seen hurtling through the air at enormous speed. A remarkable feature was that no lives were lost nor was anyone seriously injured. Following on an apparent cloud burst in the ranges, serious flooding occurred in Masterton last night when the Waipoua River overflowed its banks and water flowed into the streets. Although light rain was falling, there was considerable improvement in flood conditions at 11 p.m. and by midnight much of the threat of serious flooding has passed. Two hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday were really a nightmare, residents being aghast at the severity of the visitation. So widespread and so extensive is the damage that it would be a census job to make anything approaching a complete list. Residents were dazed at the terrific velocity of the wind and with the scene of wreckage that met their eyes in almost every street. Several pedestrians were lifted bodily off their feet and thrown down some distance away. A fifty-foot chimney stack collapsed like a pack of cards. The damage in Masterton Park is almost indescribable. Innumerable large trees have been uprooted, while the havoc in the flower beds is heart-breaking. The custodian’s house was badly damaged when a teee crashed on it. SCENES OF MISERY. Deluge, Flood and Gale Damage. <" Star ” Special "Reporter.) FEATHERSTON, October 2. The deluge which set in last night continued throughout the Wairarapa all morning, adding to the damage done by the gale and inflicting misery on hundreds of householders and business people who had the roofs of their premises torn off during yesterday’s gale. There was still a foot of water in some houses in Masterton. while the surface water in the vicinity ot Featherston had again increased and had again enteed many houses. The Waiohene River, which blocked tue main highway with flood water to a depth of five feet, had dropped considerably this morning despite. the rain, but there was much more water running over the road between Featherston and Grey town. A tour through the country between Featherston and Masterton shows that at least half the premises have been damaged in some way or another, varying from total collapse to strips of iron off the roofs. Post office linesmen were out in all directions, and by mid-day had established a temporary telephone line from Masterton to Palmerston North. In the badly affected area south of this, however, it will probably be days before the services are restored, for there are as many as fifteen consecutive poles down with wies broken and tangled. Additional wireless installation was in use at Masterton to-day, but a fast motor service between that town and Featherston, which has become the chief telegraphic office for the district, is still maintained. There is no sign of the weather improving, and lack of communication with outlying districts has prevented computation of the damage.

ENTERPRISE SHOWN

Publication of Newspaper in Storm Area. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 2. An example of journalistic enterprise was given by the Wairarapa “ Daily News” at Carterton, which, owing to the absence of electric power on Monday. was unable to publish as usual. The proprietors issued a special

storm edition which consisted of a single sheet printed on both sides, each side containing three columns of news and advertisements, the columns being 13 inches long. This was run off on one of the smaller presses. At the “ News ” premises one shed collapsed and the roofs of two others were damaged. In the main building several sk'-lights were smashed and three machines flooded with water. The “ News ” states that the damage to the towrl is estimated to run to many thousands of pounds. The main street is the scene of ruin, sheets of corrugated iron, posts and glass being scattered in all directions. Question of Financial Assistance. (“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. October 2. In view of the extensive nature of the damage in the Wairarapa district it is expected that requests for financial assistance will be made to the Government in order to carry out the necessary work of rehabilitation. Interviewed to-dav, Mr Forbes stated that up to the present the question had not been raised with the Government and Cabinet had not given it any consideration. (Other messages on Page 11.)