LOSS OF PASTURES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1938, Page 7

LOSS OF PASTURES

HAWKE’S BAY FLOOD DAMAGE AS HIGH AS SEVENTY-FIVE PER CENT. AREA NORTH OF TANGOIO. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, May 5. An astounding toll of losses of pasture in the area north of the Esk Valley as a result of last week’s flood was reported at a special meeting of the Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday. The meeting was called to consider ways and means of assisting settlers affected by the floods, particularly in the area between the Esk Valley and Waikare.

It was reported that the damage in some localities, particularly north of Tangoio and at Kaiwaka was very serious and the loss of pastures in some cases as high as 75 per cent. If stock losses were anything like the percentage of losses of pastures, the position of settlers in this area would be very serious indeed.

The meeting discussed ways by which settlers might be assisted and appointed sub-committees to ascertain either by air signals or through the Post and Telegraph Department and Public Works Department, what assistance was required for the welfare and maintenance of stock brought out from the affected farms, also what stock had remained. The meeting also decided to make an immediate survey of the position with a view to arranging for the removal of such stock as could be contacted. It was suggested that the use of lorries and pack-horses would be necessary for this purpose and that the air force could drop rolls of wire-netting at certain points so that causeways over swamps, bogs, and slips could be constructed to enable the freeing of stock and the transportation of fodder inland.

PROTECTIVE BANK.

EARLY REPAIRS PLANNED. By Telegraph.—Press Association, HASTINGS, May 5. “Repair work on the 10-chain break in the protective bank of the Ngaruroro River will commence immediately it is dry enough,” said Mr C. Lassen, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, this evening. He explained that this bank, situated half a mile upstream from the Pakowhai bridge, near Hastings, had been badly scoured out by the last flood and had been responsible for the flooding which had occurred today. “It is scoured very deeply, and it did not take a very big rise in the level of the river before the water began to flow through,” said Mr Lassen. ESK VALLEY. MINISTER MEETS SETTLERS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, May 5. To meet settlers of the Esk Valley who were flooded out last week and to make a general inspection of flood damage in Hawke’s Bay, the Minister of Labour, the Hon H. T. Armstrong, arrived at Napier from Wellington this afternoon. Shortly after his arrival, the Minister, accompanied by the Hon W. E. Barnard, M.P., and Mrs E. L. Cullen, M.P., went out to the Esk Valley and met about 60 settlers in the Eskdale School. GALE IN BAY OF PLENTY. DAMAGE AT TAURANGA. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TAURANGA, May 5. Tauranga and district were swept yesterday by a heavy south-easterly gale which shifted to the east late in the afternoon and to the north in the evening. Small craft in the harbour were severely buffeted, but all escaped damage except one launch which broke its mooring line. It was damaged through crashing against the wharf and was in danger of sinking, but strenuous bailing saved it. A railway embankment accross tire harbour, which caught the full force of the seas last night. was washed away in places up to the rails. A road embankment at Hairini, near the town, also received minor damage. RAIN ceases. GISBORNE DISTRICT ESCAPES ! ANOTHER FLOOD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISBORNE. May 5. Another serious flood in the Gisborne district was averted when the rain ceased shortly after 9 o’clock last night. As it was, settlers on flat land spent an anxious night watching the gradual rise of the river and fearing a serious inundation. The river again overflowed its banks in low-lying areas, but the depth of water was a few inches less than last week. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. yesterday, 3.63 inches of rain fell in Gisborne, making five inches in 72 hours.