Incidents of the Flood.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1815, 23 July 1906, Page 3

Incidents of the Flood.

EX-CITING EXPERIENCES. Many oxciting incidents connected with the recent Hood are being narrated. Mr W. D. S. Macdonald, the well-known sheepfarmer of Whakarau, sot cut for town to fulfil his duties as a member of tbo County Council. He was riding one horso and leading another, a pa'kborse. When ho had only got as far as the sohoolhouse he got into n washout in iho river and had a hard strugglo in the water. Tbo packhotso got away and eventually landed on the opposite side, while Mr Macdonald, who was heavily clothed, hold on to the ether horse. Too boss turned over more than once with his head nndor, and then it was necessary lo keop a Bate distance for fear of getting kicked, of which Mr Macdonald g t a nasty re- | minder by a kick whiob slightly split his lip. The foroe of the kick was fortunately spent, or it would have gone hard with Mr Macdonald. When things had got to a very sericus stage b strange thing happened ; and is one of the few oases on record where there was reason to fael thankful for tho damaging of a telephone line. The wire of tho damaged line was I swinging in tho water, and Mr Macdona'd grasping it was able after a dosperate struggle to regain tho shallow part of tho river, and ho also saved the horse by getting its head above water after it had given up the struggle. When making a fresh start Mr Macdonald found tho road impassable, and had to c.mo by dovious ways until he roachod Karaka on Friday evening. On the way down he obtained information as to tho damage to the Kssalsa outting. Tho liQca being down

he did not know anything of tho overflowing of tho Waipaoa and other rivors until ho heard tho nows on his way down.

ANOTHER ADVENTURE

Mr Sam Bakor olio readied town on Saturday, having ridden from Rakauron in oompany with tho Rov. Mr Walker and Mr Androw riokon, jun., wboco paronts reside at Patutahi. In crossing at ono plaoa Bakor took what ho thought to bo tbo best way ; tho othors got over all right, but Baker's horse plungod into a had spot, with tho rosult that tho ridor was washed from his horse and had a narrow osoapo of drowning, and possibly would havo mot auoh a f.tto had it not boon for tho splondid aseis'aooo ronJorcd by Moons Pickeu and Wa'kor.

A RESCUED MAIL

At Poutuiu tho mailman had one of his horsos swept away, tho horse having a portion of tho mail pack -d on it. Tho horse and mails were resouod aftor sotno trouble with tho aid of a boat which fortunately was available.

VARIOUS REPORTS.

Tboro are no d tails obtainable from tho Motu, oxoopttng tbit tho wholo of tho flat was in high flood. There aro also reports of slips, but no definite information is yet ott doable

A good deal of damage has been done to roads on tbo Wairoa side of tho district, thero being numerous slips that will take a few days to olosr up. Messrs Rsdstono and Son aro haviug a rough tirno iu koopiug thom.il oontraols going, but are succeeding wonderfully, though an extensive plant and a largo number of horsos beyond what is required in fino woather have io bo employed.

The Karaka racecourse is said to havo a layer of about 6''t of silt thoroon.

Tbcro is in town an indignant Maoti, whess opinion of our Town Clerk is down to zero. Tho Maori applied for somo of tbe flood relief funds, declaring that be had lost a few 11 to hen and to duck,” but that ho still ownod plenty of laud. Wh,n told that no funds could bo spared in his case ho retired, uttering romarks of a deprecatory nature, whioh he supplemented later on aftor partaking of refreshment.