FLOODS IN THE NORTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 5

FLOODS IN THE NORTH.

DABGAVILLE, September 2.

•There has been a very heavy rainfall fluxing the last few days, and it has dotf© considerable damage at Northern Wairoa. I^ast night at Dargaville the township was inundated by water to a depth of several inches, the river having overflowed its banks. Several business firms suffered 1 heavy losses, the damage to goods belonging tp Adams (draper) running , into over £100. The losses at Dargaville are nothing compared to those occasioned in. the lower reaches of the river, especially at Banpo, where cattle have been standing on the flats for several days in water several feet deep, and not a blade of grass is to be seen. Matters are -v^ry senous. i

Hundreds of acres are submerged, and a number of settlers will probably be ruined as a- result of the visitation. The floods ar« the largest known for 20 years. The Government and the member for the district have bees communicated with.

The substitution of dry bread for gruel at the Clitheree Workhouse has resulted in a decrease of over 3000 vagrants during the past 12 months. The unusual occurrence of bees 6warming in early spring was to be witnessed on a section in Gore on August 29. No doubt (say* a contemporary) many of the weatherwise will say this augurs & dry summer, but there is this certainty about the- happening : that it is an indication of the mild weather experienced recently in the couth.