Aorangi Bridge over the Oroua River, photographed during the 1882 flood on June 9.

The traffic and railway bridges across the Oroua River at Aorangi sufferd considerably under the heavy flood waters on April 17th, 1897. The approaches to the Railway Bridge on the Feilding side of the river went with three short spans of the bridge, the iron piers resisting the force of the current remarkably well. The only connection left between the two sides of the river were the Railway irons and sleepers, which remained swinging in the air. Two spans of the Road Bridge on the Feilding side of the river, went, leaving six standing without any apparent damage. The two spans which were washed away stranded about a quarter of a mile away down the river.

The traffic and railway bridges across the Oroua River at Aorangi suffered condierably under the heavy flood waters on April 17th, 1897. The approaches to the Railway Bridgeon the Feilding side of the river went with three short spans of the bridge, the iron piers resisting the force of the current remarkably well. The only connection left between the two sides of the river were the Railway irons and sleepers, whichremained swinging in the air. Two spans of the Road Bridge o the Feilding side of the river went, leaving six standing without any apparent damage. The two spans which were washed away stranded about a quarter of a mile away down the river.

The traffic and railway bridges across the Oroua River at Aorangi suffered considerably under the heavy flood waters on April 17th, 1897. The approaches to the Railway Bridge on the Feilding side of the river went with three short spans of the bridge, the iron piers resisting force of the current remarkably well. The only connection left between the two sides of the river were the Railway irons and sleepers, which remained swinging the air. Two spans of the Road Bridge on the Feilding side of the river went, leaving six standing without any apparent damage. The two spans which were washed away stranded about a quarter of a mile away down the river.

The traffic and railway bridges across the Oroua River at Aorangi suffered considerably under the heavy flood waters on April 17th, 1897. The approaches to the Railway Bridge on the Feilding side of the river went with three short spans of the bridge, the iron piers resisting force of the current remarkably well. The only connection left between the two sides of the river were the Railway irons and sleepers, which remained swinging the air. Two spans of the Road Bridge on the Feilding side of the river went, leaving six standing without any apparent damage. The two spans which were washed away stranded about a quarter of a mile away down the river.

Continuous rain falling in and around Feilding caused a serious flood in the principal rivers on Saturday, 17th April, 1897. Thr Oroua River was a raging torrent causing the collapse of the Menzies Ford Bridge. The river reached its highest level since 1881. The Rangitikei, Pohangina and Manwatu Rivers were also in high flood.