DAMAGE BY FLOODS.

CLEARING BLOCKED ROADS. NEW PLYMOUTH TO TE KUITI. ' A LENGTHY PROCESS. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] NEW PLYMOUTH.' Tuesday It is not expected that normal traffic will be possible on the Awakino Valley Road, connecting New Plymouth .and Te Kuiti, during tho next two weeks. This time may be somewhat reduced provided labour can be obtained to work on the blocked highway, and if the weather conditions arc' favourable. Tho slips on the Valley Road affect a distanco of about six miles. s Tho rain which fell yesterday added to the difficulties being encountered in the important work of renewing communication. Tho Mount Messenger Road was reported yesterday to bo in fair order.. Tho Public Works Department has gangs of men at work at the scene of the blockages. . . Mr. C. E. Bellringor, who left Te Kmti On Saturday and has arrived in New Plymouth, stated that there was no doubt a great amount of damage had been done to the road. In some places on the Valley Road the whole formation of the road had slipped away, and fallen into the river below, necessitating the whole of that portion of the road being rebuilt. There is ono section (about two miles) which it is estimated may take up to three weeks before it will be in proper order again. Between Te Kuiti and Piopio, about one and a-half miles of tho road follows tho Mokau River, which, in becoming silted up, had overflowed its banks and covered the road to a depth varying from six inches to four feet. Cars were, however, able to pass this point yesterday afternoon. By to-night it was hoped to have about five miles of the road on the Awakino side clear, but yesterday slips and wash-outs were met with every few hundred yards. In some places the road 1 had disappeared entirelv. while in other cases there wero indications of further trouble if more heavy rain fell. Men were working on the road over Mount Messenger yesterday, and that section is now clear. . On the side of the road was seen a car partially demolished. It had apparently been caught by a largte slip. A lady who made the trip from New Plymouth to Piopio yesterday stated over the telephone last night that she had to walk a distance of about five miles over a road blocked by numerous slips, and in some places only a few feet in width, where the outside portion had slipped away into the gorge. The road was quite open as far as Mokau, she said, but the crossing of the river on the punt was a very rough one, owing to the flood waters* and the logs they had brought down.

KINCr country roads. NUMEROUS SLIPS OCCUR. FLOOD WATERS SUBSIDING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE KUITI. Tuesday. The weather conditions _ in the Country ha%'e very much improved. Marokopa and Kiritehere the water has receded. A thick coating of silt has been left on the ground. It is the opinion of residents that the Kiritehere River has been deepened by Bft. at the mouth. The Marokopa. Road has been cleared, but fie two bridges near Moeatoa have been adly damaged. Residents consider that the floods were the worst and most sudden in ttje history of the pakeha The mail service to the west coast has been resumed. The mails are taken by the bus as far as Moeatoa via Mairoa and Waitanguru, and thence to Marokopa by packhorses. Several motoring parties have been delayed in Te Kuiti owing to the Awakino Valley being blocked. They had to,send their cars by train and proceed via Marton. Water is still lying on the flats round Piopio. The Wa'irere and Aria roads are still blocked by slips, communication being maintained to Aria through the high conntry. A 'arge number of slips occurred on the Mangaotaki Valley Road, and several private bridges were washed away. Both car services to New Plymouth are being maintained, arrangements having ' been made to tranship at the other side of Mahoenui., This means a three-mile walk, but the fact that two ladies came across yesterday shows that the journey is not as bad as was expected. Mr. J. C. Rolleston telegraphed to the Minister for Public Works asking that relief be granted to the county councils affected by the floods. A reply was received this morning stating that the usual practice would be followed in this connection. and advising the local bodies conerned to get into touch with the Public Works engineers so that investigations can be made in regard to the extent.'of the damage done. t