Relief For Stricken Settlers Organised

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1948, Page 5

Relief For Stricken Settlers Organised

r Press Assdciatibn)

(Pei

GISBORNE, May 16. Compreliensive measiires for tlie iiiitilediate relifef of fiddd-stricken i settlers over wide areffs of the Gisborne flats, were lauiiched today by the 1 Alayor's eommittee, in conjunetion ' with radio station 2ZA1 which performed a magiiificent job'in Conducting ajipeals for friends dnd tlie eolleetioii and distribiition of food, clothing and filfel from tlie Salvation Army barr&cks. 1 With the recession of flood waters from further large areas, gangs of liouse-elearing voliiiiteers and stock carcase collettors traversed the cduntry while other groups distributfed food; clothing and bedding supplies Which poured into the central dfepot. Subdepots were established today* in the flood areas i'or einergeney clothing supplies for needy families. The Alayor, Air. N. H. Bull, received a telegram from the Prime Alinister stating that tlie flood sufferers will be inost sjoiipatlietically dealt with. Air. Laiigbern, engineer-in-chief, a Treasury ofticial and offieers of tlie Agricultural Department, left Wellington today with Air. D. W. Coleman, Al.P., to make a flood survey. The borougii water supply pipeline which was broken in three places at the two river bridges and oue road bridge about IS miles from towii, is not expected to be repaired before tomorrow. Slips which blocked the' railway between the beacli loop and Aluriwai, were cleared today but the line from Aluriwai to Gisborne is still under water and scourad at the bridge approach. It is beiieved that a through ; ra.il servic'e will not be restored till Wednesdaj. The aerodrome is still unserviceable as the result of the ilooding and silt, and is unlikely to be clear for trafiic till AVednesday. The south road and coast roads are open but the north route is still blocked. x\.s the result of the ffooding and sodderi state of the wallboard struclures in the transit camp, the families there are to be evacuated tomorrow to private lionies m town, probablj' for a fortnight. Over £1330 was raised loc-ally last niglit and today as the result of a radio uppeal for flood relief funds. "Alissing sinee he entered the bush on Tahunga station on a pig hunting expedition oh Wednesday afternoon, Edward Saunders, aged 32, married, of Alatawhero, was rescued this morning from an island where he had been marooned throughout the floods. A big party of police and station and county employees, scoured the wild fecrub eountry in torrential rain for days since his companions reported his disannearance on Thursday mornins:.