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WANGANUI DISTBICT. In most places the rainfall last Easter commenced on the morning of the 15th April, gradually increasing in intensity during that day, and being an even downpour all over the affected districts during the whole of the 16th, gradually easing off into showers during the 17th and 18th. The total for the period of four days was over 10 in. at six of the recording stations, amounting at Tikowhai (Hawke's Bay) to 19'96in. during the period. The region of greatest rainfall was the upper or northern end of the Buahine Range, the Kaimanawa Ranges, and the Euapehu country ; all the rivers rising in that area being in phenomenally high flood. The accompanying map shows the river-basins, their areas, and the rainfalls at the recording stations. The river-basins falling within the Wanganui district are as follows : (1) Waitotara River, (2) Wanganui River, (3) Wangaehu Eiver, (4) Turakina Eiver, and (5) Rangitikei River. The damage done in the district will be described under these heads. All these rivers have been visited since the flood, and the damage actually seen or obtained from eye-witnesses or residents. Waitotara River. Except in the way of slips, which were not to any extent worse than in ordinary winters, the amage done in this basin was inconsiderable. The rainfall was not specially heavy over the area, 2-55 in. being the highest recorded. Wanganui River. All the eastern tributaries of this river were in very high flood, while those draining the country to the west were only in moderate fresh. At Pipiriki the river was about 30 ft. high, or not within 8 ft. of the flood of 13th .February, 1891. In Wanganui itself the river was about 3 ft. below the mark of 1891. The only serious damage done was in the way of slips on the Pipiriki-Waiouru Road, which lies for eleven miles in this basin. A culvert tunnel about the 35-mile peg was badly blocked by a slip full of large timber. There were three very large and many small slips on the Kaukore sideling, and a few moderate slips on the Mangoihi Valley. No special damage has .been reported from the upper waters. Wangaehu River. The river tapped part of the region of excessive rainfall, and was in consequence in tremendously high flood. The recorded rainfalls were 631 in. at Raetihi, and B'46in. at Parapara. At Mangamahu the flood-level was fully 10 ft. above that of 1891, and at the railway-crossing about 4 ft. above the same mark. The rise at Mangamahu was 23 ft., and at the railway-crossing about 22 ft. The highest previously known flood was in 1859, when probably a sudden heating of Ruapehu caused a rapid melting of snow, resulting in a short but very high and destructive wave of water washing away the traffic-bridge just above the railway-crossing. The oldest Natives at lower Wangaehu have seen nothing approaching this flood, nor does tradition mention any like it. Above the railway-crossing and up to Mangamahu many of the low terraces were covered with water, and in places the banks were considerably undermined and washed away; but the only serious loss to property was in lower Wangaehu, from about a quarter of a mile above the old trafficbridge for four miles and a half down to the beach. Here an area of 2,000 acres of splendid flats were covered to a depth ranging up to 7 ft., probably 500 acres averaging 4 ft, in depth. After the flood the ground was found to be covered with a layer of silt up to 12 in. in depth, in a few places being as great as 3 ft. At Mangamahu the flood was at its height about two hours after midnight on the morning of the 17th; but at Lower Wangaehu the waters only began to submerge the flats about daybreak, and were not at their height till about 1 p.m. on the 17th. The principal losers were William Craig—l2o sheep, forty pigs, 30 chains fencing, potatoes, oats, and wheat spoiled—estimate, £500 damage : this is a lease from the Natives. S. Moon, a Native, is reported to have lost seven hundred sheep. W. Ritchie (native lease) lost forty sheep. All the Natives at the Kainga, near the railway crossing, lost certain amounts of stock, and damage from water and silt. As to damage to roads, there were a considerable number of slips on the upper Wangaehu roads, such as the Mangamahu Creek Eoad, Hall's Track, and Wangaehu Valley Road. The most serious damage is on the Valley Eoad, where three large washouts occurred, necessitating fresh culverts and fillings or bridges. On the Fordell-Mangamahu Road the most serious damage to the roads was caused by the river washing away the road, notably at McCain's Cliff, the contract for repairing which amounted to £92. In the, upper waters of the Wangaehu-Murimotu no damage of any consequence was done, but in the Waimarino district the Mangawhero River, the principal tributary of the Wangaehu, did a large amount of damage. Indeed, the main body of the flood came down the Mangawhero. On the Pipiriki-Waiouru Road, the Mangawhero overflowed its banks most of the way from Ohakune to Toanui. For a mile below the crossing the water rushed down the main road to a depth up to 3 ft., scouring out large holes, and generally greatly damaging the formation. The overflow at Bowater's (17J miles) ran through and joined the Makaranui Creek, washing away two 3 ft. by 3 ft. and one 10 ft. by 5 ft. culvert on the Makaranui Road. The water was 2 ft. over the Toanui Bridge. Owing to scouring of the foundations on the Ohakune side, the bridge subsided about 18 in., and the approach on the same side was washed away. The bridge across the Mangawhero at McDonnell's was also covered, but suffered no damage beyond part of the earthwork approaches being washed away. On the Makotuku River, which joins the Mangawhero three miles below Raetihi, serious damage was done. The 20 ft. and 30 ft. bridges across the Makara were both covered to a depth of 2 ft., but suffered no damage. A tremendous rush of water came down the Makotuku, carrying great masses of timber with it. The river was crossed by a totara bridge, two 30 ft. spans. Owing to a large collection of timber at a sharp bend just above the bridge the current was directed on to