S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2592, 9 December 1893, Page 3

S.C. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The newly-constituted Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for South Canterbury on Wednesday. Present—Messrs J. Jackson, R. H. Rhodes, J. Hill, A. White, W. Coltman and F. R. Gillingham. Mesiivs J. Talbot, and W. M. Moore sent apologies. The secretary, Mr Orwin, and the house steward, Mr Jowsey, were in attendance. Mr J. Jackson was re-elected chairman. Messrs Gillingham, Moore, and Hill were elected a finance committee, and the chairman and Mr Hill a visiting committee.

The third Tuesday in the month was agreed to as the ordinary sitting day. The chairman stated that the new caretakers took charge of the barracks on December Ist, too recently for any report to be made upon their management. It was agreed to give Mrs Sabiston 50s for fowlliouses left at the barracks; it to be understood that no such claims will be received in future, unless the improvements are authorised by the board.

A number of charitable aid cases were dealt with on correspondence. . Among the accounts was one held over for further enquiry, this being an account for £3 for conveyance of a destitute person’s corpse from Bhoboro Downs to Burke’s Pass and £1 for burial there. Mr Rhodes suggested that the Goverment should be asked to make a cemetery reserve at Pukaki, as there was uo such reserve in all the Mackenzie Country, and it was agreed that this should be done. Mr Ooltman mentioned a case at Waimate of a mau of 66, who had just broken down and could work no longer. He had a quarter acre and a two-roomed cottage. Mr Coltman inquired on what terms assistance could be afforded. The chairman expressed his opinion very strongly that in such cases the deeds of the property should be given into the board’s custody, the relief afforded to be a charge against them. The members generally approved of this principle. accounts. Accounts were passed for payment, hospital £125 3s Bd, charitable aid £163 11s 3d, and the meeting terminated.

THE FLOODS IN HAWKES BAY. Napier, Dec. 6. The scene at tho Napier railway station last night, wheu some of the women and children who had been rescued from their flooded homes at Clive were brought to town by a special traiu, "was most pathetic. They were driven to the local hotels,

when their pressing necessites were relieved. Some of the people had miraculous escapes of their lives. One woman, who with six children sat on top

of the roof of a house all night, relates that between 12 and 1 o’clock on Monday night she heard a mighty roar when the river Tukituki burst its banks, sweeping everything before it. So sudden was the rush that there was no time even to save stock, and no possible means to escape except to climb to the roof, the younger children going up first, and then drawing up the mother. A dreary night followed, as rain fell heavily and there was nothing

in sight but water for miles. The family, only scantly clad, sat on the roof till half-past seven the following morning, when they were rescued by a boat’s crew. Another woman, a widow, living alone in her cottage suddenly found her bed floating about the room. The water rising higher and higher she climbed on

to the dresser shelf, there suspending hexpocket handkerchief from a ring in the roof, to which she clung all night. Previously she clutched an empty box, which was held in readiness, so that if the worst came she could jump in and float about till rescued, having first placed a jug in as a bailer. In this suspended position she was found at 7 o’clock yesterday morning, and conveyed to a place of safety. It is marvellous how all managed to escape, and that there was not loss of

life amongst the families at Clive, as the boats crews in some instanes had to prize the weather boards of the cottages open and let people out at the gable end. The loss of sheep is enormous. At Clive the whole place, with ruined houses and dead stock, and carcases of sheep coming down the Ngaruroro river in dozens, presents a saddening spectacle. Supplies of food were despatched from Napier this morning, some settlers coming to the Clive hotel in boats for supplies from Papakura. At Meanee and C.ive the crops are ruined.

Those settlers who saved stock now have trouble staring them in the face through havijg no fodder for the winter months, as the hay is all destroyed. The body of the Rev. Mr Douglas has not yet been found. The weather is now broken. The settlers at Waipawa bush spent a fearful night, the waters flooding them out, and they had to be conveyed to Waipukurau. The township suffered also, the low lying parts being under water three feet in depth in the main street. Many bridges throughout the district were washed away, whilevehicular traffic was impeded in all parts through landslips. It is impossible to estimate the damage until the waters subside, but the loss everywhere is ruinous. The damage is much greater than in any previous flood, especially in the losses of stock. In former years floods have been expected, and the water has risen gradua ll " giving the settlet? tilß9 tw get fitpclf on higher ground. This time jjheie was not the slightest anticipation of ft, flood at midnight, and half an hour afterwards the whole of the Olive-Papakura district was from 5 to 12 feet under water, with the current running like a Thi» was dne to tho • ...m race. «■ * , of the emoamcmeht both at Ngarnroro and Tukituki. whose waters joined and centred in Gib e. Practically all the stock in olive and Papakura perished, A Taradale and Meanee the water was not so deep, and though a good many sheep were drowned the cattle and horses were saved, Over

the whole district, however, the crops are ruined. About Clive even, the grass is unavailable, being covered by a heavy deposit of silt. The Mayor of Napier worked indefatigably from 3 o’clock yesterday morning in organising and superintending relief, ami to-day loads of provisions, blankets, anil clothing, were sent out, the railway authorities giving every assistance. The Mayor has called a meeting to organise a committee to give more substantial relief, ami already £4OO has been collected. December 7. The body of Mr McFarlane, Maraekakahao, has not been recovered. In connection with this accident a Maori named Harawera committed a heroic act by swimming the torrent of rushing waters and rescuing one of the men who were trying to save the bridge, while another Maori went in on horseback and rescued a third man. Y esterday afternoon a serious interruption in the railway traffic lines was repaired, and the train has resumed running to Hastings. Thousands of head l of cattle have been drowned, which represents a great loss both to large and small owners, but it is doubtful whether the loss to crops is not a larger one. A large number of boxes of clothing of all kinds, bread, tinned meats, etc., have been sent out to relieve the temporary wants of the people, but a great deal will have to be done to put the settlers on their feet again. Many people who looked to harvesting to bring them in a little are also sufferers, as the harvesting now to be done in the flooded places will require no labor. A Maori rode to town this morning stating that 27 Natives at Matahiwi were thoroughly destitute, as their stock and crops were destroyed. They being in actual want a cart-load of food was despatched. Their condition could not be previously ascertained, the roads being impassable. At Clive to-day the work of burying dead stock is busily proceeding, but owing to the great quantity of sheep and cattle drowned it will take some time before all can be cleared away.

A largely attended meeting was held today at which a small but very active committee with Mr Swan as chairman, was appointed to disburse the money raised for the relief of the sufferers by the floods. Already about £9OO has been collected, but at least £20,000 will be needed to meet immediate requirements. At a public meeting at Wellington over £IOO was subscribed in the room, Mr Bell heading the list with a donation of £2O. Wellington, Dec. 6.

The Premier has wired a message of sympathy to the mayor of Clive and the other places flooded in Hawkes Bay, and offered to send up a detachment of torpedo men to assist the settlers in restoring order in their homes if necessary.