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Shannon News, 6 September 1929, Page 3

An attempt was made some time early on Sunday last, by some person or persons unknown, to wreck the stopbank guarding the Ruamahanga river at a point at the rear of Mr Stuart Reid's residence at Kahutara, Wairarapa. At the time the river was in high flood, running within six feet of the top of the bank. The perpetrators of the act cut a breach 20 feet long and six feet deep in the hope that the water would do the rest and flood Mr C. Elgar's property as well as that of other residents living, further down the valley. Luckily the flood water had reached its height, and only a trickle fame through. Had the, attempt succeeded, 3000 sheep and hundreds of head of cattle belonging to Mr Elgar, as well as the stock on Mr J. O. Sutherland's and Mrs L. Sinclair's farms, besides others, would have been destroyed. There wa s also every probability" that human life Avould have been lost. Luckily the attempt was unsuccessful, and 'the matter is now in the hands of the police. It is understood that a detective is making enquiries and that furtner developments are likelv to result.