FLOOD DAMAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1925, Page 1

FLOOD DAMAGE.

L Itv TlXKliltAl’ir—l-Klt I’IiKSS ASSOCIATION. lIKAVY IN ('AX'I’KI! IH’R Y. (■iißisTciinini. July i. The weather Mils iilie to-day, and the- M'.sMiiion of tlic ruin removed the tenrs regarding further Hoods in the 3 country. Many houses in the city anO count a linvc I icon mended liy t's- - wuters in the past fete days. The exchequers ol the local bodies and of prieate individuals 'till he heavily taxed to make pood the damage, which is by no means inconsiderable, and in some areas is the greatest that has been suflered for several decades. 11l Llie city itself, (lie greatest- damage is to the roads, which have sunk under the sodden conditions, causing iiiiitimerabie potholes where once there was a good surface. A general improvement was repoilL'd 10-dav in the conditions in the country. The rivers are subsiding, but it 'till take some days before the vast sheets of water lying in the paddocks ,;et away, as the ground on whieli the

water is lying was already at saturation point lie fore the floods came. Little Kiccr was reported clear this morning, lull owing to slips, it is yet iiltiecessible by road. .Vow that tlie streets in the eilv Itave heeome dry, the effect which the rain has had upon the roadways in the immediate vicinity of Ike tram tracks is very apparent. A walk along the chief thoroughfare has revealed the fact that at the Hank of New Zealand corner and all down High Street the main highway is in a particularly had condition. The tram rails project in some places a few inches above the surface, which has been scoured out right alongside the rails. The position along the suburban lines is very much the same. It will cost tiie Tramway Hoard thousands U) repair the roadways. Practically all classes of vehicular traffic are in the habit of driving alongside the tram lines. This naturally Ims the effect of loosening the tarred macadam surface, and thereby making it easily subject to wash-outs. Once the surface becomes loose ami wet weather ensues, the tram tars came along and throw the water off the rails. HASTINGS. July 4. During the last few days, rain fell in torrents in Hawkes Bay. causing anxiety over floods. Last night thy Vgaruroro River overflowed its hanks at Pakowlm. but this had been anticipated, ami the stock were removed to higher level. Last night's storm eased off this morning, giving the water a chance to get away. The Tukituki ■ remains well within its hank. The weather is easing, hut it is still unsettled and threatening. WAIKATO STILL TUSTVG. ATT'K LAND. July 5. The latest report from Mercer last night stated that the Waikato River is still rising.