WAIROA COUNTRYSIDE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 September 1932, Page 5

WAIROA COUNTRYSIDE

(Press. Assn.-

MANY THOUSANDS REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE COMMITTEES AT WORK

—By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

Wairoa, Tuesday. Only one jolt of a heavy natu're was felt to-day. Mr. F. W. Furkert, chiel' Public Works eiigineer arrived, and was busily engaged throughout the day investigating the position, but his opinion at present is unknown. A survey of Waiotoi Valley, traversing the hills to Clydebank, shows that the country is in an appalling state. Miles of fencing are displaced. One farmer estimated the cost of replacing the fencing on his property alons at £500. One valley gave the impression that numerous gold sluicing /claims had been at work. At numerous intervals of ahout 20 yards, landslips had taken place. At Pakarae Station, no less than 22 landslips occurred. One was estimated to j cover 40 aeres. Numerous dead sheep j can be seen protruding from the dej bris. One slip, containing thousands of I tons, ceased its mad career only three | chains from a homestead in which a | man, his wife and a number of young 1 children were in bed. The father interviewed said that he was of the opinion that two blow outs occurred on his property, each covering three acres. Soil thrown from the valley was so churned up that it looked as though it had passed through a large mincer. Roads Subside Roads in parts have subsided and are dangerous for traffic. It is remarkable that in one house, only a few articles were broken, while 15 feet away a heavy keg o'f staples was thrown across a sma?l room as if it was a cork. The Clydebank side presented an appalling spectacle. One house was off its blocks and split clean in two, and others are simliarly affected. All will have to come down. The Camperdown stream is blocked, causing the lake to break through, resulting in heavy flood. The stream is now blocked further up and is liable to 'break through at any momenfc, causing heavy floods and further stock losses. It will be impossible for days to investigate all the country settlements, but present indications point to the financial losses being extremely heavy. Much appreciated cash donations and gifts of crockery are now commencing to arrive, but many thousands will be required. An urgent meeting of the Farmers' Union has been called for Thursday to consider ways and means for assisting those affected by the disastrous visitation. Local committees are all functioning harmoniously and rapid progress is being made in the restoration of various works.