WAIPOUA OVERFLOWS.

Wairarapa Age, 3 February 1936, Page 5

WAIPOUA OVERFLOWS.

SEVERAL STREETS FLOODED. DANGER SOON PASSES. Rain set in in Masterton. late on Saturday afternoon and in the evening it considerably increased in volume and continued throughout the night and well into the day without abating-. The fall registered in the 24 hours from 8 p.m. on Saturday lentil 8 p.m. last night was 4.33 inches. Yesterday morning a strong south-easterly gale was experienced in Masterton and the conditions became very boisterous. The Waipoua River started to become discoloured at 9.30 a.m. By 11 a.m. it had risen 18 inches, and at 1.30 p.m. it was up another 18 inches and thereafter it rose rapidly until 6 o’clock. At about 5.30 it topped the stop-banks at Hope Street and a fair volume of water also broke the banks near Chapel .Street and the first Waipoua River Bridge. The Borough Engineer, Mr. C. R. Mabson, and a staff of men were watching the position clsely and by concerted efforts in sandbagging at one or two danger spots they were able-to prevent a considerable amount- of water from finding its way into Queen Street. As it was, a fair quantity flowed along Chapel Strwet as far as the Masterton County Cbjfcel’s office and also along Queen Street, most of that in the latter thoroughfare coming from near the bridge, where it flowed right through Mr. Shepherd’s plumbing workshop, at one time occupied as a motor garage. This water flowed along Queen Street as far as the Post Office and then found its way into Church Street. The borough staff, by damming back the water near Queen Street, prevented a vast volume from rushing into the main thoroughfare.

STOPBANKS effective. Fortunately, the stop-banks near Masterton Park proved effective, although water nearly reached the top. The banks along the river at Mawley Park also held, the water being within three inches of the top. Elizabeth, Jean, Hacker and other streets in that locality were not affected by the flood. -Hie water just reached the top of the bank near the croquet greens in the Park for about three chains. Fortunately the situation eased at about 6 o'clock and the river had dropped 18 inches by 8.30. Although a number of willows and dead trees were swept down the river, fortunately none lodged near the Waipoua Bridges, thus allowing the water an uninterrupted flow. Borough employees were on duty throughout last night in order to keep a close watch on the river. Improvement work is still proceeding on the stop-bank near Hope Street and will be completed in a week or ten days. Had the flood come a little later it is likely that no water would have found its way into the streets. MASTEBTON PARK. One or two trees were uprooted in Maaterton Park and the dahlia bed spoilt, while the hydrangea plot, near the Lake outlet, was covered with water to a depth of four feet and the tennis courts were also inundated to a small • extent*. Otherwise the Park escaped fairly lightly, especially from flood water. In other parts of the borough a fair amount of damage was done to gardens, fences and street trees. In lienail Street one small street tree was blown right out of the ground, and in this street and others many trees were badly battered. COMMUNICATION LOST. Communication by telephone and telegraph both northward and southward of Masterton was interrupted. AU telephone communication with Wellington was lost yesterday afternoon and only one Morse wire remained in action, the trouble being located on the Rimutakas. At 9.30 o’clock last night, however, a telephone wire to Wellington was restored. Northward, all communication was lost to places beyond Eketahuna. It is understood that a number of trees at Newman were blown down over the wires. Immediately it was seen that the storm was becoming serious, linesmen and others were despatched early yesterday afternoon to carry out repairs. The emergency radio transmitter and receiver was also brought info use in case it was required. A considerable number of rural telephones were reported to be out of order last night on account of the storm. SLIP ON RIMUTAKAS. A big slip occurred on the Rimutaka Hill, about four miles from Featherston at a locality where the highway is at present being widened. Several chains of the road are affected but it is expected that traffic will be able to use the road to-day, as a track is being made past the obstruction. The main highway was flooded yesterday afternoon in the vicinity of the Waiohine River and the road was

blocked, while there was a wash-out at Matarawa on the alternative route. Last evening the Waiohine was reported to be dropping again and cars were able to get through.