FLOODS IN POVERTY BAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8159, 18 July 1906, Page 2

FLOODS IN POVERTY BAY.

THOUSANDS OP STOCK DROWNED. MILES OF COUNTRY UNDEB WATER. SETTLEKS DESERT THEIR HOMES. NO LIVES LOST FEB PBBBB ASSOCIATION. Gisbobnk, July 17.

Three boats have been sent from Gisborneto the assistance of settlers on the flats, many of whom have vacated their houses. About Wae rengahika 2,0)0 sheep lure been drowned, and in the Makuri 1,200 others.

No human liyes have been lost, but several settlers were for a time in a precarious position, Ormond is cut off from communication by road with Gisborne, the river having broken through there, and is, running like a mill-race towards Gisborne.

The bridge across the river at Tarukeru, at Nelson Bros.' works, was swept away, with the sand pump dredger attached to it, and crashed through the footbridge at Carnarvon street. Fortunately it was here suspended, otherwise it would assuredly have done damage to the other town I bridge.

It is impossible at this time to give' au accurate estimate of the damage! done, but many settlers will lose heavily. The flood is over the tops of the fences for miles between Waerangahika and Makaraka.

Mr and Mrs T. King, of Makauri, were rescued from the roof of their dwelling, from which they were firing guns to attract attention, There was eight feet of water in their house. Some of the settlers have lost heavily of their milking stock. Horses and cattle are seen to be swimming about in all direotiom, and drays sent to rescue them were bumping about amongsf the bodies of drowned sheep. Seven or eight bqits hare been sent out from town, bat some of them are unsuitable for good work, their keels catching in the wire fences. At Ormond, a settler named ij)lland was isolated on a smill island m 1 the settlers ace miking a raft to rescue him.

All settlers whose houses were surrounded are now believed to be safe.

The train was only able to proceed three miles _out to-day, the line for several miles being under water, with many wash-oats, At 2 o'clock the water was reported to be receding slightly, and as the ram is decreasing, it is thought the worst is over,

There are forty refugee settlers Huddled in the Makauri schoolroom, <eyeral being in delicate health. The condition of some of the women and children who had to flee from their houses in scanty attire, and in some cases to wade through water, is pitiable, but everywhere they arc ueeting with generous hospitality and assistance.

The rainfall since Saturday totalled 9'17 inches. G2APHIC DETAILS. FLOOD WATERS EIGHT FEET DEEP. NAHROW ESCAPES OF SETTLERS. BRIDGES WASHED AWAY. WATERS SUBSIDING. FEB JPBBSS ASSOCIATION. Gisbobne, July .17. With the continuance of the heavy rain which set in on Saturday last, the i Poverty Bay district was visited with [one of the severest floods in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. Fortunately no loss of human life has been reported, but the loss of stock and damage to property will represent! many thousands of pounds The Waipaoa river had in two places overflowed its banks on Monday evening, but the full significance of this was not fully 'recognised until daylight to-day, when the whole extent of country from the Matawhero bridge to Makauri, and from Makaraka hotel to Ormond was several feet under watei,

News of the state of affairs existing in the country was accompanied with requests that assistance should at once be sent to the several districts, and in a yery short time the Mayor and Sergt, Williams with other gentlemen took steps to render what help was possible under the circumstances.

Relief parties Were •qjniniscd and boats were despatched (0 Makaraka. from which place tliry .sot out ii. different direetio is tj re.ider ,is»i<t.incc The people in the vicinity of Makaraku ilso rendered splendid service in effecting the rescue of their ncighbmh. It was to a great extent duo to th; prompt measures taken that no loss o' liuraan life occurred, as many of th residents on the flat were rescued afte most ixfyfj From an earjy Jjpj'r crowds o! spectators gathered at Makaraka, am' the boating operations of the rescui pirties were watched with inlorest. There was excitement in town from an early hour, news from country districts being eagerly awaited. At nine o'clo:k a message wa-* rec ivod that Nels >n 8.'03.' new brid.jp, with a dredge and a punt, was coming down the riv-'r, mil asking that warn ing should be given to assure tli< safely of tho two town bridges. The bridge and dredge carriec' everything in front of thorn as tlio.i floated past the residences in Aberdeen road.

The on-coming mass came with n great crash into tho footbridge at th<Recreation Grounds, carrying a large portion of the bridge, on the southern side, olean away. The bridge from Nelson Bros.' was travelling doirn the stream, broadside on, and coming in contact with the footbridge, the whole fortunately became entangled and remained so sufficiently long to enable lines to be got out and fhe yhpje ggenred. i Nebon Bros, were heavy losers in other ways. Casks of tallow and empty casks from the works were washed away, and damage was done ts the property generally, The shipping at the wharves w*s made secure early in ths day and practically no imtffi WwWwwdi'' 1

UTEST TELEGRAMS.

From Makaraka to Makauri the whole country wan under water, in ■nany place* fence* and hedges being ' right out of light.

The boats sont out from Makaraka plied in different direction, calling at tho houses; en route in the hope of removing residents who had been ' •mable to get away. i n mao liouses were found to be already tod, but in instance, the Help proffered wa. most opportune, and the inmates were brought to Makaraka,

So many boats joined in the epera"ons of affording relief, that whra it was made certain that there Was not likelihood of loss of human life occurfin* the boats lent vaMrfe msiitanoe m sav.ug stock and property; In thi, „,- thousands of stock were saved. #„„. ever, there was great'loss of whilst the damage to property u... 1 serious. '■■■ • •••■ '

Towards noon, the whole" of tht country beyond scene of desolation.

As the boats swept <m tie* cours* towards Makauri, signs of devastation were evident. There was a depth of about six to eight feet of water on the road, and also every few yards . dead animal could be seen. In less than » hundred yard,, OTCr 20 deid COWB »»<l °»<tos were passed. The first house passed wis , ab ! merged up to the windows and the ifiT habitants had long since left. Pu m . kins, maiae and poultry were floating about. The tops of the outbuildings, lying a little distance from «,„ aOM were just showing out of the water whilst dead pigs, were entangled in the' top wire of « fence. Horses were floating about on tU , the whole place showed only to pUinl, to those in th.e boat what a food/meant to the qwner, , B 4 how what was one day a smiling homestead, could the next be turned into a g Mae o { tne utmost ruination. Everything in the house had been left, but was being washed hither and thither by the rash of water, - •

There was the same experience*, garding man; other, houses. At Makauri, Mrs MeCollogh and her daughter could not to leare their hquse, the w .tei was over the floor.

At.Tfaerangahika the water Vai over the floor of the hotel, and u». oreased during the nijhfc At Ormond, there is some danger that the riyer will change to an old course,

A man named Jack Bolan, who was isolated on a small piece of land, was rescued with difficulty. At Makann a settler named Scott was aroused by the whining of hit drowning, dog, and got his wife and child away safely from the dangerous position. At Whatatntu some of the settlers had to Wade waist deep to reach I refuge. I There is general interruption of communication, and it is impossible yet to give any estimate of the losses. , Nearly all tho settlesa on the plain , will lose to some extent, and some, very heavily. To-night an old footbridge across the Warkanae creek was carried away, Until nine o'clock to-night the danger was increasing, but the rirers are now (ailing steadily. The weather is how squally, and (he rain is abiding. •■•'•. '\|^

S;fiPpiNO INTERFERED WITH,

GiSßOHljfi, July 17, , Yesterday afternoon a bo»t pat ashoro from the steamer Haiipm (lying in the roadstead) for instructions, bat on returning oould not make the ship, owing to the sweep of the flood waters into the bay. The boat was ran on the Waikanae betoh, all hands being safe.

LATEST DETAILS. ' " To-night there was an inrush of flood water into the Waikanae stream, dividing the town from the beach and Victoria township. The water has evi* dently broken through from the Ama. puni lagoon. .

A second bridge (Grey street) has been carried away, and there as » eorosion at the ra'jjiwy bridge,' Jherg is no danger excepting as 'to the small bridges, the town being ' well above any risks of flood. Then seems little chance of tendering'the Moura in the morning.

FLOODS IN HAWKE'S BAY. 188 JPBBSS ASSOCIATION. ' . Napibb. July 17. The heavy rain Vb^qh : 'liegai),' - q|i Saturday afternoon and has continual intermittently .since, has now praetio. ally ceased. A heavy sea ,1s 4111 running in the Bay, disorganising ship* ping. The Tarawera put in an appearance from Gisbome at a.m., but so far has been unable to eommttnfcX cate, and is waiting outside in the of a favourable chance to-morrow. The rivers here are in high flood, but are now going down, and the sun f ice water in the subsiding". No serious damage is ag yet reported.

Owing to the flooded state of the railway line between Hastings and Farndon, mails and passengers had to coached round ;'j gap, and did not irrivein Napier till 10.5 p.m., three hours and a quarter late,