THE GORE FLOODS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 2 April 1913, Page 5

THE GORE FLOODS.

- ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE. LOOTERS AT WORK. (By Telegraph.—Pre? l ' variation.) (XVRE, last Wight. , Local tradesmen wcare busy this morning;' and with the entrance to their shop.;/ olv:u\ they were -working in tljoir shirt slcvi <•, and disposing of badly-damaged r:v.d«> at absurdly small nrifps. ' Several aur-ioa sales were held on the paveirierit in 'front of the shops. Bidders were in plenty, and the bargains in cases are iiot' likely to be repeated. . Unfortunately, looting is going 011., principally in the drapery establishments.

One of the worst features rf the disaster is tihe lack ocP sufficient water. For a short time this morning the mains were filled, an<l those w ho were alive to the fact laid in a small s'oek for their immediate iu>3. .The-steam fire engine got to work this afternoon at the pumping station, and commenced pumping direct into At 5.30 it was reported _ that valor had (reached the reservoir. ,T3ie sanitary condition of the town was likely to become serious, but the prompt action of the Council officials La getting the water supply will) obviate this danger to a very great extent. An estimate of the damage done in the business quarter tills morning indicated' that' it Anil run into some £30,000 in Main, Mersey, and Medway streets alone. This figure does not include damage to buildings other "property. ; . What the amount of damage is to private houses, it is hard; to say, but it considerable* indeed. The grain stores and fellmongery also suffered considerably. A number of flooded-ou t residents had fires in their homes all day yesterday. Many of those whose bedding was not seriouslv affected spent tie night under their own. roofs. Others-will not be able to return for several days and are still billeted with friends on the higher levels. .Everywhere blankets, bedding) linoleums and rnigs are being dried on fences and hedges. . It is difficult to get an estimate of the damage done in the country, but it is considerable. Miles amd miles of fencing have been lost, ana gram stacks removed piecemeal and as a whole, but it is impossible to get an estimate concerning the loss of stock. The disaster will run the Rail-way Department into a heavy expenditure, -on the- Switzers hue partacuoperations were continued at tlv© Mataum .paper-mills » this morning. The damage to the main race is n«t so bad as was at first anticipated, and it is hoped to have the mill re-started in about a month's time. , At the freezing* works a few rap- : bits have been received, the majority • going to the Bluff and Maharewa 1 All mutton and lamb has been ' loaded out, and will be shipped away ' as opportunity affords.