Flood Notes.

Manawatu Herald, 19 June 1902, Page 2

Flood Notes.

Whilst the flood was at its highest on Sunday, on the Maori land opposite the town ah unfortunate horse seen standing with the water up to his head. He evidently took time to consider the position for not till Monday evening did he attempt to better it. He then swam across and neared the bank just above the wharf, Here the crew of the Queen of the South, with others assisting, lassooed the steed and made fast to his mane and tail and guiding the body to the wharf hauled it in. A Maori, to whom the quadruped belonged immediately claimed it on seeing some person leading him away for (which however the Native ' did not know) a feed. On last Sunday morning the hands at Stiles and Coley’s mill, who were not in pleasant quarters, saw Marden’s mill, about half a mile distance, on which the men were perched on the roof awaiting rescue. Mr R. Stevens is reported to have lost 1000 sheep, and Mr J. Hill 300 cattle on the Hokowhitu land in Palmerston. On Sunday morning the Palmerston approach to Awahuri bridge was washed away, and there is a gap about Bft. wide. A temporary structure is being erected. Arrangements have been made to

work a boat at the Bulls ferry as soon as the state of the river permits, and the punt will be put oa when it has been repaired and caulked, which may be expected to take about a fortnight. The road to Makuri is in a fearful state. Bridges have been washed away and heavy slips will block the wheel traffic for three weeks. There is no bread in Makuri and little flour. Communication has been cut off since Thursday. Mr Harry Coley has lost the whole of his mill, 'except the engine he was able to drag away, and fifteen Stons of fibre, by the flood in the river at WaipukuraU* The river undermined th# bank and let the whole mill into the river. This will mean a serious loss to him. . , £ There has been about four or hve miles of the railway wa?hed away on the Palmerston side of the Oroua bridge, and Work is being donfi a£ quickly as possible to let the tram through, but it is not expected running can be resumed before Saturday, if then. ,