FLOTSAM & JETSAM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 2 April 1913, Page 5

FLOTSAM & JETSAM.

the floods at gore.

PETTY THIEVING. [Per Press Association.] Gore, April 1. The Gore Borough Council met yesterday to consider flood matters. Several cases of distress were reported. It was decided to open local subscription lists.

Some looting was reported during Sunday, and even to-day some women were seen removing damaged goods placed on the pavement in the most barefaced manner. EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. At Wendonside the scene of desolation is hard to describe. Fences have been washed out, and crops in stook swept away. The most serious aspect is''-that winter feed, turnips, and grass, are covered with silt and rendered almost useless. On one faim the entire flock of 600 sheep was swept away.

Tradesmen were busy to-day clearing away the Hood debris. Much of the damaged stock was auctioned in. thp shop entrances. H. and J. Smith and McGruer, Taylor and Co. .(both drapers) sustained damage to the amount of over £2OOO each; Lewis and Co. (drapers), £2000; Mac Gibbon and Co. (drapery, grocery, and boots), and Thomson and Beattie (drapers), each £1500; the Federal Hardware Co., £1400; The Farmers’ Co-operative and Wright, Stevenson and Co. (general merchandise), and Watson (bookseller) £IOOO each.

The approximate' damage in three of the principal streets is estimated at £30,000.

Butchers are clearing up the freezing works, the silt is being cleared from the electric light machinery, and it is hoped that power will be obtainable in two days. In some houses, the doors were burst open by the force of the flood, and clothing and bedding were washed out and lost. The streets of Gore this morning wore littered with damaged goods discarded from shops, and were being taken away in carts. There is no definite information yet as to when the electric light and power, which are supplied by the Mataura Falls, will be available...,, Iheie will be no water in the mains until the power is restored. This will likely affect the sanitation conditions. Efforts are now being made to convey water "to private * houses, but the house delivery in this manner will Jbe only for cookng anid washing purposes; and, while disinfectants axe being used as far as possible, the town will soon be insanitary unless there is water in the mains. DEVASTATION AT WAIKAIA. News from Waikaia district is to the effect that severe loss and damage have been sustained everywhere in the district. Owing to the flood, families had to be rescued on horseback. Cottages above the railway terminus were carried away bodily .and stranded in pieces.miles below. T|is railway workers’ houses were flooded early on Friday evening, and there was difficulty in rescuing the occupants. Their belongings were ruined owing to the silt. The coal-pit owners are heavy sufferers.

At Freshford, several families had to leave their homes and take refuge in the only house above the water level. There were heavy losses of stock lower down the valley, and great damage was done to buildings and crops. The railway line was gutted out in several places, and near Switzers station the destruction was very heavy. The country roads and bridges suffered severely, and raining properties were seriously affected.

THE LATEST REPORT

j Gore, April 2. There is bright sunshine this morning, and the work of restoration of the business premises and houses alter the flood damage is proceeding apace. Auction sale are proceeding outside the business places. The river lias fallen materially. The losses in certain grain stores are mucii heavier than expected. The damage is mostly confined to grass and clover seed, which is absolutely mined. One firm lest nearly £IOO of the seeds alone. The discarded seed is sprouting. THE ORETI AT LUMSDEN. Some apprehension is felt in Lumsden regarding the Oroti, which appears to have found a new channel behind Crosbie’s and McPherson’s hotels. It is feared that another big flood may cause the stream to divert further towards the east, when it would enter the main street of the town and affect practically the whole business portion.