BREAKING OF DAM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 241, 10 September 1929, Page 6

BREAKING OF DAM.

FLOOD SWEEPS DOWN VALLEY. HOMESTEADS CARRIED AWAY. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Sept. 9. As a result of the earthquake on June 17 the Little Wanganui River was blocked by great land movements —slips from Mount Anaconda (4000 feet) and Mount Scarlett (4100 feet), The movements started from c height of 2000 feet and blocked the river with thousands of tons of rocks and other debris for a mile in length. This dam occurred immediately above Belltown, about 12 miles from the mouth of the river. Heavy rains during the week-end caused the river to break away during the early hours of Sunday morning and a great flood swept down the valley. Four homesteads were completely sweat away and others were shifted from their foundations. How the settlers escaped to higher country is a miracle as they had little or no warning of the approaching catastrophe. It has not been possible to ascertain the total loss of stock, but it is feared that it will be heavy and ruinous to settlers. The farms are cut up badly, and in most cases are completely covered with timber, gravel, and other debris. The settlers in this locality had just been provided with a good metalled road, and were beginning to prosper. It is heart-breaking for them to see their life’s work gone for nothing. About two miles of the road and the bridge spanning the Little Wanganui River have been totally destroyed. The damage to private property, roads, and bridges is heavy. Mr C. F. Schadick, county engineer, stated that he inspected the blockage shortly after the earthquake, and that his party spent five days in this locality, but owing to the difficult nature of the country and the dangerous movements on the mountain slopes it was impossible to proceed very far beyond the actual blockage. He states the dam was about 400 ft. high and about a mile and a quarter long. The river was flowing through the bottom of the dam during the inspection. The water in the ponded area rose after heavy rain, but quickly subsided again. The river in the lower reaches had been flowing normally for the past two months. Mr Schadick thinks that perhaps heavy falls of snow have been melted by recent heavy and warm rains and caused the water behind the blockage to rise quickly and overflow the dam and sweep through the lowlying country. The Wangapeka Valley did not suffer badly in the earthquake as far as slips were concerned, but from reports received, the township of. Wangapeka is in a similar plight to Seddonville. DETAILS OF DAMAGE. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Sept. 9. The following message has been received by the Chief Postmaster from the postmaster at Karamea : —“Re Wangapeka flood:—lndividual losses are as follow: J. Gilmore, whare and two cowsheds washed away; loss stock unknown yet. J. Bird, threeroomed house and cowshed gone; loss stock unknown. C. Leach, house all right-; farm badly cut up and half stock lost; will be unable to carry on. R. Scobie, house and cowshed gone, and about 52 sheep. H. Jenkins, farm cut up: loss stock unknown. T. Rex, flood through house; about 25 head stock lost and farm cut up. E. Samuels, house shifted fifteen yards; cowshed and seventeen head stock gone. Bert Baker, farm cut up; estimated about fifty head stock lost and unknown number sheep. “The road and bridges from Jenkins to Gilmore’s entirely washed away. Farms covered with trees and debris." MONEY FOR RELIEF. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. In consequence of an appeal bv Mr G. C. Black. M.P., Sir Joseph Ward lias authorised the immediate sending of £250 to the Karamea relief committee for relief required through last night’s flood.