Farms and Homes Swept by Waters

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 764, 10 September 1929, Page 10

Farms and Homes Swept by Waters

BURSTING OF DAM HEAVY STOCK LOSSES WESTPORT. Monday. The dam in the Little Wanganui River, caused by the earthquake in June, gave way early yesterday morning and farms and homesteads in the valley suffered badly. There was no loss of life. As a result of the earthquake on June 17 the Little Wanganui River was blocked by great land movements. slips from Mount Anaconda, 4.000 ft. and Mount Scarlett. 4.100 ft. The movements started from a height of 2,000 ft, and blocked the river with thousands of tons of rooks and other debris for a mile in length. This dam occurred immediately above Belltown. about 12 miles from the mouth of the river. Heavy rains during the week-end caused the river to break away during the early hours of yesterday morning and a great flood swept down the valley. Four homesteads were swept away and others were moved from their foundations. How the settlers escaped to the higher country is a miracle, as they had little warning of the approaching flood. HEAVY STOCK LOSSES It has not been possible to ascertain the total loss of stock, but it is feared it will be heavy and ruinous to some settlers. The farms are cut up badly and in most cases are completely covered with timber, gravel and other debris. Settlers in this locality had just been provided with a good metalled road and were beginning to prosper. It is heartbreaking for them to see their life’s work gone for nothing.