STORM’S EFFECT IN MARTON AREA

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 June 1948, Page 2

STORM’S EFFECT IN MARTON AREA

(0.C.) Marton, June 29. Steady rain which tell tnrougnout yesterday in Marton was followed by a stormy nigm. n was tne most boisterous locat residents nave experienced since the February gates of last year. Soon after dark a strong winu irom a soutn-eascerly quarter, accompanied by heavy rain Snower'S, swept the district, and tins morning several cases of flooding were reported front numerous parts of the district. Some trees nad their limbs ripped off by the force of the wind. r ot- the 24 hours ending 9 o'clock this morning tne raintaii at Tutaenui measured 2.16 inches, while that at Marton was 2.04 inches. This morning was overcast, but the weather rapidly improved during the day and by this afternoon the countryside was bathed in warm sunshine, with a moderate westerly breeze. At dawn this morning, the countryside was saturated and large sheets of surface water littered the low-ly-ing land. The Tutaenui stream rose at an alarming rate overnight and overflowed its banks in several places. Flood waters from the stream covered acres of pasture lands in the vicinity of the junction of Bryce's Line and Tutaenui Road, while large stretches of water covered portions of the Marton golf links. From the links down to Calico Line, turbulent waters from the Tutaenui stream, flowed across the paddocks. “It was the biggest flood we have had in the district for many years," commented a Tutaenui farmer. The Tutaenui stream subsided just as quickly as it rose and by mid-day today, while still carrying volumes of muddy water, it showed no further signs of overflowing. Reports from the Rangitikei County indicate extensive flooding in parts of the district, but no damage of any consequence had been reported to the engineer’s office at Marton. The Waimutu Road, off Fern Flats, was blocked by a slip, but county workmen had cleared it sufficiently by mid-day to allow traffic to proceed. The Turakina River was in high flood today and the road was inundated with flood waters in several places. The Rangitikei River was also high and at mid-day the gauge at Kakariki was reading 10 feet. Water from the river had covered an extensive area of land on the northwestern side of the railway bridge spanning the river. The Tutaenui stream again overflowed its banks at Curl’s bridge, and water was over the road there, and also near the Rangitikei Dairy Factory at Bulls. Hundreds of acres were covered with flood waters near the dairy factory. About eighteen inches of water covered the main road lust north of Hunterville, where the Porewa stream had broken its banks. Traffic, however, were able to negotiate this flooded stretch by careful driving. At. Rata, flooding on the flat land on the eastern side of the railway line occurred at one place near Silverhope the highway was under water.