THE FLOOD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4384, 1 March 1922, Page 2

THE FLOOD.

ROTOKOHU AREA. FARMS INUNDATED. RAILWAY WASH-OUTS. The full effect of the flood which commenced last Sunday night had not been felt up to the time of the “Gazette” going to press bn Monday at noon. As,the hours' went on the position in some areas, notably the Rotokohu district, became progressivelyworse. The settlers in the river flat known as Pereniki’s bend, and those in the areas occupied by Messrs RMcKee, J. Handley, Mrs J. McKee, and Messrs Innis had a particularly bad time. Prepared papers give an -estimate of the total damage, actual aril prospective, at £lO,OOO. This estimate ' takes into .consideration the grass and crops destroyed by the minr ing silt, the falling-off in feed and consequently in milk production, and the time and cost of restoring the land to its normal state of productivity, as far as this latter purpose can be achieved. ■ BOATING ACROSS THE FARMS. A representative of the “Gazette” went across Pereniki flat on Tuesday morning, crossing the river below Mill Road and coming out near the old junction.

The greater part of the first farm, t.hat of Mr WL N. Chamberlain, was submerged by the flood, and a deposit of' silt left behind, being in some places up to 18 inches in depth’; Even where the silt has not actually burled the grass it has left a coating on the vegetation, in which condition the cattle cannot depasture. The land is really first-class, growing maize 10 ft high, and a crop of lucerne which had been cut fpr the fifth time .this seasons three weeks ago‘is now over a foot high. With adequate protection the land would be worth £lOO per acre at present-day values, but while it is subject to siltation its value depends on what prospective purchasers might feel disposed to gamble upon it. It is also noticeable that where the willows have been ring-barked affi-i killed the river has eaten away the bank, causing it to fall in, thus 1 washing away the land. These remarks apply also t’p Messrs IML G. McLeod, D. Marshall, E. r Gambling, and Hawera Taranui’s lands. • On Monday night the settlers were rowing about over their farms in boats, endeavouring to get their stock to high land for safety. Approximately 200 acres were affected in this (A BAD CASE. , t One ot the worst instances of damage suffered is illustrated pn Mr W. Keys’ A farm, on the western'.side of the river. Here some; 45 dairy cows and other stpek .were huddled together on a small raised portion of the farm, and even this part was covered by over a foot /of water. Owing to all the surrounding parts, including the space between the raised portion and the dairy shed, being several feet deep in the water, the owner had not been able to niilk the cows for two’ days. All night long the poor creatures were bellowing, and other stock sending up their cries of misery, making a pitiable noise for the helplfess owners to listen to. Messrs McKee, J. Handley, Mrs J. McKee and Messrs Innis were in a similar plight.

CAUSE, EFFECT, AND REMEDY. The settlers in the bend submit, with obvious truth, that they are being sacrificed Ifor the benefit of the Awaiti-Netherton area, inasmuch as the stopbank erected by . the Public Works Department throws the/water back on their properties, natural outlet having been blocked up. It is a case of the minority being made tp suffer for the protection of the majority. They contend that Pereniki’s cut should be put through. On the other hand, it is thought that this procedure would; cause the silt to be deposited lower down, tpwards Awaiti and Netherton. What they want is the Government to state What it is. prepared to do: to pay them compensation for . damages, erect stop-banks that will effectively protect their lands, put the Pereniki cut through, or purchase their farms and let them start life anew somewhere els,e. . The subject is a complex one, and; is alluded to in a leading article in this issue. RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION. REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER. The Tirohia, Rotokphu, nad Pereniki Ratepayers’ Association is. moving in the above matter, and a meeting is called for 7.30 p.m. to-morrow to discuss the matter. In the meantime, the following letter, has been sent to the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister for Public Works, by the secretary, Mr W. Keys: “I am requested by the above association tp respectfully urge that the Public Works Department inform this association of ratepayers, ,re the following : Has the Department any immediate intention of proceeding with completion of protection works’ so urgently needed in this area, namely, left stop-bank of Ohinemuri River? Caii the Department state any policy to be adopted re same ? ' “I am requested to point out, as per attached statements of damages, the dire position the settlers in this area are at present placed in. As a recurrence of floods at present will complete the. ruin now half accomplished by the last flood of theunforA tunate settlers in this area, I am preparipg evidence, sir, to show that tlie damages caused recently are largely the result of the present incompleted works of the Department, inasmuch as the existing stop-banks have dammed the flood waters very largely on the area represented by this body. “This matter is one concerning the livelihood of a large number of hardworking settlers and the productivity of a large area of most fertile land. I am instructed to strongly urge a definite reply to the questions contained herein, ahd also, sir, ' immediate consideration pf our dangerous position, i

AT THE PUKE. For some reason that is pot apparent to the lay mind the Public Works Department engineers, in building the * stop-bank at the Puke bridge, have left a depression just before the approach to the bridge is reached, and through this the water poured.achoss the road, blocking motor traffic to and from the Hduraki Plains. The whole of the locality was* under water, including Mr si Laughlin’s and sWja- ■ cent farms. THE KOMATAThe Komata creek overflowed its banks and deluged the low country about Hikutaia, sweeping forward to the stop-bank at the Puke, and inti minting Messrs Dunlops’ and adjacent farms down to the Waimarie bend. , THE RAILWAY. As usual,, the railway embankment just south of Paeroa station which is used as a stop-bank suffered several . wash-outs, and the train services were interrupted from Monday morning until Tuesday evening. Gangs of men, under the Inspector of Permanent Ways (Mr R. Sellars), were at work in all directions, and had the line ready for last nightfs Hamilton train. The Waihi service was also temporarily suspended. / The greatest damage suffered is that caused by the siltatiop of farms in Pereniki’s bend.

EFFECT ON HAURAKI PLAINSLITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED. "Gazette” Plains Reporter). Though the rains on the Hauraki Plains were the heaviest experienced for some years there was little cause for anxiety on most of the Plains. ■ Instances of local flooding were common/ but the water channels were equal to the task of taking the flood waters away. . The heavy rains had the effect of making some, of the roads little less than a quagmire. The unmetalled portion of the service car route was rendered almost impassable, but) the service and mail cars with the use of chains were enabled t’o crawl through It on low gear, slipping and sliding, but nevertheless determined to. get there. The last trip made via that route was on Monday morning. Neither the service car nor mall ear made the trip on Monday afternoon, [and whqn the service car ventured out yesterday it was via Wharepoa Ferry, as the water at tlie Puke bridge was too high to permit the passage of motor, traffic. The small strip of unmetalled road near Dalgety’s Corner, Pipiroa, has been rendered impassable for the cream cart and the cans are how sent to Pipiroa and thence to Ngatea by launch. \ . The Piaku River has risen a little .higher than is usual, and at Patetonga is over its banks.. At Kerepeehi there* is yet no signs of flood. All the drains round Ngatea are fully taxed. Half ,of the public pound was under water, which also encroached on the * approach to the Public Hall. At the Wharepoa ferry on the Waihou several logs were seen coining down the river and frequently the timber lodged itself on the wire ropes causing the ferryman a 1 ittle anxiety. MOTbR SERVICE DII’TICLTIES. The usual punctual motor car tiime tables were seriously disorganised this week to the statte of the roads. Messrs Brenan and Co’s service car missed Monday : evening’s trip, but* the car/was on the road again next morning, but by a different route —via Wharepoa—to Ngatea. The old route was taken for the re-i turn journey, which was continued without interruption till tftie Poke bridge was reached. Here the passengers were obliged to enter a boat and he transferred to another, car on the other side of the flood waters. This’ process was repeated yesterday evening, when tlie car left again at-' six o’clock after the arrival of the connecting launch" from Te Arpfaa. Mr Rpigard’s mail car missed two trips—Monday afternoon and yesterday morning— and even last even, ing, running a little late, some con-1 siderably difficulty was experienced in taking the mails through, the car went from Pajeroa to Kerepeehi via Wharepoa ferry. The Ngatea mail was then delivered, and the Netherton bag left on the return journey.