FLOODS IN GISBORNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 304, 18 May 1911, Page 5

FLOODS IN GISBORNE.

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. RIVERS RUNNING HIGH. STOCK BEING SHIFTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. Just over a year ago Gisborne and the surrounding districts suffered severely from the most disastrous flood evei experienced in this portion of the East Coast, and to-night unfortunately there is every prospect of a repetition of the catastrophe. Rain has been falling steadily since early yesterday without intermission, and at times with torrential force, with the result that creeks and rivers arc in a state of high flood. The Waitoa river is the one which threatens danger to Poverty Bay fiats, and nt the danger point, viz., Waerengaahika, where it burst the banks last year, the river is within six feet of the top of the bank and is rising rapidly. Settlers on the flats, warned by last year's experience, when stock was lost in great numbers, are engaged in moving stock to back paddocks out of reach of the flood waters.

The rain shows no sign of abating, and the outlook to-night is indeed gloomy. It is almost certain if the rain does not stop in the next few hours dire consequences may result. Much uneasiness is felt among settlers and townspeople alike, who fear the river may break over before midnight, as at about 11 o'clock the tide is full, and the Waitoa is a tidal river. It is not expected, however, that much loss of stock will result, but otherwise the damage by the flood is expected to be considerable.

In the town of Gisborne itself the streets are full of running water, like mill-mces. Many of the lower lying -t----tions are inundated, and much damage is being done to the sewage works in course of construction.

The rain has been accompanied by a heavy south-easterly gale. Tremendous seas are reported from all along the coast. The Victoria, from Auckland, which passed East Cape at 1.30, had not put in an appearance at 9.30, and it is thought probable that she either put to sea lor the night, or, considering this port unworkable, has gone on to Napier.