MORE FLOODS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19562, 4 May 1926, Page 7

MORE FLOODS

ANNUAL TAUMARUNUI VISITATION TARINGAMOTU BRIDGE CARRIED AWAY KAIN CEASES IN TH® Press * TAUMABUNTTI, May S. A tremendous downpour last night caused the rivers to rise rapidly this morning. The Wanganui River is not greatly affected by the flood waters. though it is running much above the normal level, but the Ongarue River iis high and is carrying much debris with the result that the Taringamotu I bridge was carried away at 11 o’clock this morning. This means that communication north of Taumarunui by road is now cut off. The bridge at th<! same place was carried away by last year’s flood. A stock bridge at Napier’s farm in the Taringamotu Valley was also washed away. Fortunately the rain ceased at about four o’clock this morning and has held I off since. Had the rain continued tb«s I Wanganui would probably have risen to la dangerous height. | Pukuwoke Sawmills Company, at Manunui, has been forced to abandon operations owing to the damage cawed by tho flooding of Pangapunga stream. The company’s bridges have been carried away, and with the destruction of the first bridge all communication with the men operating higher up has ceased, and the full extent of the damage is | not yet known. ' Tn .1925, at about this time of tha year, one of the heaviest floods in the j history of Taumarunui was experienced. ; The Ongarue river, which runs north of I the town, rose about .13 feet and the I Wanganui banked up about eight feet. I The Taringamotu stream bridge, which I is tho connecting link north to the lOhura ami Waikato districts, was car- | ried clean away. A low level bridge I was then erected, but apparently has I failed in its purpose as it was carried away in the present flood. Serious damage was also done to the road beI t ween Taumarunui and Matapuna by Jast voar’s flood.