MANAWATU FLOODS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 205, 31 August 1932, Page 7

MANAWATU FLOODS

WATER STILL HIGHER BOATS RESCUE RESIDENTS BRANCH RAILWAY WASHOUTS LORRIES AND CARS STR iNDI ) ( Pci* Pres# Association.] FOXTON, Aug. 30. Foxton is isloatcd by flood waters ex■ept from the north. Occupants of several farms in the Whirokino and Moutoa districts left their homes for places of greater security this morning. Constable Owen left for Ranngiotu, where several families were reported to bo marooned in their houses, and effected a rescue by boat. The flood threatens greater proportions of this locality but residents are now all sale. Several lorries and cars are stranded in th e water. Stock losses are reported not to be great owing to thc timely warning, but even so thc flood threatens some herds. Tho weather is fine but the river is 16ft. Gin. above normal at Rangiotu. The greatest height will probably be reached to-night. Tho Foxton-Palmerston railway line is washed out in several places. NEW HIGH LEVEL RIVER rises again I Per Presh Association.] PALMERSTON N., Aug. 30. A fall in the Manawatu River promised by the falling gauge at 2 a.m. this morning, did not eventuate. Instead, the river suddenly rose again to reach a new high level of 14ft. 6in. The banks in the Taiakitahuna area were unable to hold this volume of water, which to-day inundated thousands of acres on both sides of the Foxton railway line, which is under water for several miles. Trains have been suspended. Farm houses were isolated, women and children in the Rangiotu vicinity being conveyed to safety in boats. The settlers had ample warning to shift their stock and consequently the losses were negligible. The Moutoa area adjacent to Foxton is now feeling the effects of the renewed flooding. The water is rushing swiftly across the Shannon-Foxton highway 2ft. 6in. deep. The FoxtonLevin Road is covered at Whirokino to a depth of 4ft. Gin. At dusk, on thc Makura side the stop banks were holding well. The observer here was presented with a striking contrast. Behind him were the fertile Makura plains with stock peacefully grazing as if nothing was happening, while across the river was a vast panorama of water as far as the eye could see. The Makura area is winning with higher stop banks.