DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1922, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

URUTI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) “Trouble never comes single-handed." is.an old saying, which at present, the settlers of Uruti are realising. Yesterday we saw havoc and destruction, not, this tlune, flames and smoke, but water and floods. After the incessant rain of Wednesday night and during the early hours of Thursday morning, the river rose rapidly between the hours of six and nine; then the turn came, and very soon one saw the water subsiding. But in those short hours damage to the extent of hundreds of pounds was sustained by the. settlers and the Clifton County Council.

Orte saw slips in every direction, bringing before then) logs of all sizes, destroying fences, telegraph poles and wires, besides making the roads impassable to traffic for several days. Then again settlers’ bridges were swept away, besides the protection works at the quarry bridge, which means that ror a while lorries cannot pass to and. fro to carry metal for the metalling of Mounf' Messenger. History once .more repeats itself. Those who were here in November 1920 will remember that flood which removed the bridge across the Mangamal o stream, Mr. N. Hamblin' running his ’bus daily for a week to the Uruti side of the stream, meeting all traffic coming from New Plymouth and other districts. Also the mails, which were carried by Mr. C. Johnston, were brought so far, and then were carried across a plank foot bridge and conveyed on to Uruti by a ’bus from, this end. As this bridge, is once more afloat, so again, something like the foregoing, will be carried out, so that settlers on the Uruti side of the river will not-quite be isolated from the bigger centres.

At. the hour of half-past seven, Mr and Mrs. Agate and family quitted their home, having to chance what damage would be done to home and furniture in tteir absence. Shortly after the hour of nine, at the rate the river was rising, another quarter of an hour, the postmistress, Miss Dempster and Miss Sowry would have had to forsake the Post Office and residence, leaving all to the destruction of flood; but just at the critical stage a turn for the better came, and the water commenced to subside. Mr. L. Jones, of Uruti, rendered valuable assistance by repairing telegraph wires and by one o’clock the wires were again in working order, which relieved everj’body. Later in the afternoon, Mr. Jones, the linesman, arrived nere under difficulties,, bringing a boat from Urenui, so as to be able to cross the Mangamaeho stream. On Friday, cream from These parts was put across ihe river on a cable. On Friday evening there was a small hut enjoyable dance in the Uruti Hall, Mr. E. Jones carrying out the duties of M.C., while Miss K. Murray was pianist for ihe dancing, extras being supplied by Mrs. Vale and Misses Mcßae and Sowry. Songs were rendered by Messrs. Klrkby and E. Jones and Miss Sowry. Supper was handed around, and in the early hours of the morning the dancing was brought to a close.

Miss N. H. Dempster is once more, back here filling her duties as postmistress, while Mr. Rowe, who relieved her during her absence, has returned to New Plymouth. We are all pleased to hear Mr. and Mrs. Doudd’s youngest child is on the road to recovery. Miss A. Murray has returned to Warea. and Miss P. Murray has taken up her duties as school teacher at Mokau.