ANOTHER PERIL.

Wairarapa Age, 5 July 1929, Page 5

ANOTHER PERIL.

MOKIHINUI RIVER BREAKS DAM. SEDDONVILLE & SAINT HELENS FLOODED. RESIDENTS TAKE TO HILLS. WELLINGTON, July 4. The Acting-Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received advice from the Chief Postmaster at Westport as follows: — ‘‘5.30 p.m.: Moklhinui River broke through dam sixteen miles above Seddonville this afternoon. Unable to raise Saint Helens and Seddonville. Presumably offices evacuated. McNight, of Summerlea, reports by 'phone that settlers of Seddonville and Saint Helens have evacuated to the hills and that river is still running very fast and is rising.” HOUSES INVADED. btafEß FALLING CONSIDERABLY. NO FATALITIES. WELLINGTON, July 4. The Acting-Secretary of the G.P.O. has received a further report from the Chief Postmaster, Westport, as follows: “9J20 p.m.: Mokihinui flood invaded houses in Seddonville and St. Helens. It is the highest flood on record. The water has fallen considerably. The Westport Belief Committee is sending vehicles from Granity and Westport to convey esttlers to Ngakawau and Granity. Communications not yet been established with Seddonville or St. Helens. Settlers appear to have had plenty of warning and it is not thought that there are any fatalities.”—(P.A.) WALL OF WATER. WHOLE SETTLEMENT SWEPT. HALL SHIFTED. WESTPORT, July 4. The Mokihinui Biver broke about 2 pm. Rising fast, it inundated the whole of Seddonville township, the flood at its highest point reaching almost to the State School at 5.30 p.m., driving almost the whole of the population to higher ground and out into the open, where a fairly hard night will be experienced, as the people had no time to secure foodstuffs and blankets. At 8 o’clock the flood waters were receding and the good news tame to hand that an aged conple, Mr. and Mrs George Coleman, were safe, they having refused to leave their premises and having clambered on to the roof. In numerous houses the water was up to 8 to 10 feet. At Hopgood’s Hotel the tables set for luncheon were swirled round on the floor. The Seddonville Han was caught by the flood, carried a distance of about five chains, and thrown heavily against Wimsett’s shop. Fortunately the flood occurred in daylight or a disaster unprecedented in the history of New Zealand would pobably have been recorded. The flood water came away, then hung for a time tad then earns away in a wall, sweep-ing-ever almost the whole of the settlement. While there does not appear to be any loss of life, the loss of oattle is expected to be very heavy, Me Indoe’s and Corby’s presumably faring the worst.

A relief train went Out to Seddonville to bring the people in to Westpoet, but they refused to come, preferring to see how their homes have fared when daylight arrives. The Westport Belief Committee met and is •ending out a big supply of food the flrst thing in the morning. Mr. G. C. Black, M.P., who has been through al! the earthquake areas is at present at Geddonville, whither he went as •oon as the flrst news of the disaster reached this town.—(P-A-.)