IN THE WAIRARAPA

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

IN THE WAIRARAPA

LITTLE GIRL DROWNED GREAT AREA INUNDATED STOCK HUDDLED ON ISLANDS [Per Pres • Ig . sn.' -; i < houses .. re surrounded by water this morning to such an extent as to cause a good deal of anxiety, were greatly relieved when the rain ceased at mid day and the flood waters soon receded, the position becoming no worse than was reported in the morning. By five o’clock in the afternoon the water had receded considerably and all danger of further flooding appears to be passed as thc sky is now cloudless. Most of the flooding occurred as the result of the crocks flowing through the town overflowing and culverts being unable to cope with the water. Good progress has boon made with the restoration of tho telephones affected by Sunday’s snow. Several county roads near Masterton were blocked with slips but the Rimutaka Road was cleared late in the afternoon to .allow the passage of cars. A. slip near the tunnel between Eketahuna and Mangamahoa, about 16 miles from Masterton. blocked all traffic this morning and it is not expected that the line will be cleared until six tomorrow night. A restricted service will be run in the meantime. Passengers to-day were transferred by car to and from Eketahuna. It is not anticipated that the washnut at Tauherenikau Bridge will be repaired for light traffic until two days. Passengers are being transhipped in the meantime. A tragic drowning fatalitv occurred this afternoon when a child named Neta Fay Greaves, agnd six years, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Greaves, was found lying in a four-foot deep pool of banked up flood waters at the side of the road near the parents’ home. The child had been playing with a little friend on thc road and had apparentlv fallen into the pool unnoticed at. the time. According to an aerial survey of the. lower valley region, miles and miles of country are under water. Tn many cases the water is up to the fence tops, while in the Ponata.hi district water is swirling round the doors of several houses. The waters of the Ruamahnnga River are still rushing through the broach in tho stonbank. adding to the volume of water which covers practically the whole of the adjacent lowlying country. It is impossible to give an estimate of the stock losses with any degree of accuracy at present. Here and there cattle, sheep and horses are seen huddled together on small islands and unless the waters recede their fate will be a problem. The Tawahia factory near Martinborough is completely surrounded by water, some of which is rwnning in at the doors.