LOWER WHAREAMA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 437, 13 April 1880, Page 2

LOWER WHAREAMA.

; (Fkoji our own Correspondent.) April sth. The late high flood has done a.considerable amount- of damage throughout ibis district, particularly to roads apd fencing. Stock have also suffered by Jobs of cpndition. The banks of the Whareama river present a spectacle of devastation ; for miles, both banks have received coating of sludge several feet in thiokneas, rendering it a dangerous business to cross on: horseback. In' fact,. most of the usual crossing places are unsafe to use.

Since this flood, however, the weather is all that could ie wished to make the grass grow luxuriantly and dry up the roads. I am informed that, the CastlePoint road will be open for dray -.traffic sooner than was anticipated.- It istpbe hoped'that the Road Board will -see its way to do some repairs on' the Uriti-Tiuui pad, between Mr Peach's residence and the Bfangapalceija JjrQge, for'it is qn the cards that during, tip wjnter njpntlis the' major portion of the traffic to ifastepton will be oa this ljir»e and via-Blairlogle. It may be gathered from various'accounts, that the; Mangapakeba road isjo much' damaged iis to render repairs almost use* less until' ue&t The forraafion and bridges on' this* road has' been carried j •It is strange that an engineer should:have. made such a mistake'as to have , only allowed two small outlets to carry off the flood water of a watershed of from fifteen'

thousand to twenty thousand acres of a „ mountainous country, especially when the velocity of the water is accelerated by a number of drains. In consequence of the Kaumingi end •of the Mangapakejia road being impassa-ble)-'coupled with thie'prohibition of : Messrs Vallance and Morrison to travel ; the Biscuit Creeek track, settlers here are at a loss how to travel and. get. their stock to Mastertou. . While eii.this topic, I may •mention" that a : petitioa'is being taketi'Touird-for signature, County Council to. take, action . matter'of procuring art outfet 'until, such time as the Blairlogie'road completed,. and' the Mungapakeha *rOad>> J , repaired. It.is: to. .be hoped:that Yallaiice Mqrrisnn will -see theiEway." clear to do a courteous action, and one that the residents , here would-be grateful forj by allowing the publio'the use of the old trespass track via Biscuit Creek, or otherwise, until suoh time as the other roads are placed in the natural condition for traffic. "It'san ill wind, that blows no.one good," and perhaps this may be applicable to a'flood, for one benefit is noticeable here from, the superabundance of water, viz., the death- of numbers of rabbits (rom drownine. The survivors, however, have'taken to higher ground, and may be seen sheltered by manuka and fern. Perhaps, like yaur correspondent, " Old ■Settler," they fear' another. disaster "shortly.