FLOODS UP NORTH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1989, 26 January 1907, Page 1

FLOODS UP NORTH.

Tho following items regarding the flood are from tho N.Z. Herald of Monday and Tuesday:— Tho miniature lake formed at 151lorslio receded slightly during Saturday and yesterday, and it has been found that three of the springs which have been feeding this body of water have dried up. It is estimated that the wat'or has subsided Sin or 6in, but tho road is still covered, and is a source of danger to persons unaccustomed to tho track. This fact was demonstrated on Saturday evening, when Mr W. O’Hara, a settler of Papatootoe, in driving homo from Ellorslio, had his horso drowned, and went perilously near losing his own life. Ho had a small wooden building tied on to the cart. In traversing the submerged portion of the road, Mr O’Hara got t'oo far on to tho side, with the result that the whole concern fell over the stone wall into 15ft of water. Mr O’Hara was unable To swim, but fortunately he succeeded in climbing on to tho top of the structure in the cart, which was 6in above the water, and thus, perched high and dry, was safe till assistance came. The liorso, being unablo to kick itself free from its environments, perished before it could bo released. Attracted by MrO’Hara’s cries for help, neighbors appeared on tho sceno some 15 minutes after tho accident happened, and ns the cart was fairly close to the wall, managed without much difficulty to rescue Mr O’Hara from bis perilous position. Tho cart and the dead horso were pulled out of tho water yesterday. Tho flood has apparently not' daunted travellers, for, while a number are returning to their homes or work after their holidays, a good number are going to Rotorua and elsewhere for pleasure. The train from Auckland reached Pokeno at half-past 10 o’clock, and by means of a plank stret'ched from a carriage to a boat, the passengers, young and old, male and female, were soon transferred to the three special boats engaged by the Railway Department for making tho trip to near Taupiri, where the train is again taken. Two motor launches and a large steani launch were soon filled by about 100 passengers for places beyond the flooded country not yet traversed by rail. A considerable number carried a good deal of luggage, notwithstanding the request of the Department for passengers to take as little as possible. The Department does not hold dself responsible for the. safety of luggage up the. river. The boats went up to the refreshment rooms at the Mercer station. On the Friday passengers were put through the windows when the floor of the rooms wore dry, but as they had about.a foot of water on the floor the three boats anchored against a window. The assistants, male and female, vaded about in the water, and handed out tea and eatables through the window to tho hungry passengers. The inner man having been filled, the trip up the river was continued. Some little excitement was caused on board two of the launches through striking the top rail of the railway fence, and the shooting over of the launches gave some nerves a jar, though there was not the slightest danger. After proceeding clear of the township, the three boats wore tied abreast each ither, the more powerful steam launch, Mascotte, being in the centre. In this manner the boats proceeded all the way to their destination.

The flood at Ngaruawallia exceeded by 23in the higli-'>vater mark of the food of 1875, which was previously the heaviest strain placed on the railvay bridge. This measurement was taken on "Wednesday evening last, about an hour before the water stopped rising, and it is fair to assume ill at it was a little more. The current of water was tremendous, but the railway and the old bridge over the Waipa stood the strain exceedingly well, and arc intact . The water has fallen very fast since Wednesday evening, but so far ns can be ascertained no stock has been lost, this being one of the most conspicuous features of the nliole flood. The crops, especially potatoes, however, have suffered severely, and between Ngaruawallia and AVhatawhata, which is mostly low-lying land, the ground was covered with water ,and all crops destroyed. A great deal of tlie wheat, however, has already began to shoot again. Tlio flaxmill belonging to Mr. M. Walsh, near Ngaruawallia, only had the roof of the buildings showing on Wednesday and Thursday, and the water still half covers it. Three or four tons of fibre have been damaged, and a little lost. The road to the. Waingaroa hot springs has been badly damaged by tho water and a largo number of slips have fallen across "it. About three miles of the road can be negotiated by boat even now, but a horse has tlion to ho taken, the journey being a difficult and dangerous one. The road between Ngaruawallia and AVhatawhata is still blocked, water being over it to a considerable depth. The l’ukete to AVhatawhata thoroughfare is in the same condition, while a largo number of culverts have been washed away all over the district, and the roads seriously damaged. Several rescues from perilous positions were effected in the town and the district. Two families residing on the esplanade had declined to leave their houses when all the other residents had done so, During the Tuesday evening, the water rose rapidly, and flooded the houses to sonic depth. Constable Cavanagh, however, had apparently been on watch, in anticipation of the danger, for he secured assistance and went to tho unfortunate people’s rescue about half-past four o’clock on the AVednesday morning .and effected the rescue of the inmates of both houses. In one of the houses, besides the parents, there were two' invalid children. The rescue was effected just in time, for tho water rose very rapidly after they left the houses. As there was no other available accommodation, the unfortunate people wore allowed the use of the courthouse. . Jo another case a woman declined bo leave her house on the esplanade, hut as the position was becoming serious she was taken from the house by her brother. and after a short time placed in a wheelbarrow and taken beyond the reach of the water.