THE LATE WAIPA FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 33, 9 February 1893, Page 8

THE LATE WAIPA FLOODS.

Further particulars to hand, says the Waikato " Times," confirm the firat reports received a? to tbo very serious losaos incurred througti the late floods by settlers and others living along the banka of the Waipa river. Upon tho rich ■ and extensive terraces near Ngaruawnhia in particular, great damage has been done. .Messrs Ratbbprne, James, Marbin have had thfeir grain,- roaize and potato crops completely ruined. As shewing the exfconb of lo&s on ond farm alone, Mr John Martin had sorao ftine acres of potatoes, five acrea of maize, and fifteen acres of oats, all of which aro gone, the land now being covered with from two to three inches of sandy raud, which deposit has also completely spoilt the grass for this season. The principal potato growers, of thp Waipa have not a potato loft for th'e Ktable. At Kaniwhnniwha. Messrs Noble and Dickey have suffered very heavily, both grain and root crops beingl fiskbb. Rigbb up along the river as far as Alexandra, and still higher into the native country, the same tale is heard. One of the most unfortunate features of the late flood; -was ibs coming so late in the ■e&dfr.:; this did not allow of another crop being planted. The 1875 flood on the other hand was.more favourably timed. This was at its heighb upon December 12th, and good second crops were obtained upon the same land, thus mitigating the losses bo a very great extent. Nothing of the kind caa be done in the present case, and this puts quito another aspect on the 1893 flood. The'Maoris'have been completely cleared out of crdps, and appear to have already recognised the inevitable, for they aro now doserting the Waipa iv large numbers and heading tor the gum fields near Hamilton. It ia evidently going to be a hard winter with\ them, and they want to get a few pounds out af,..the gum whilst the weather keeria fine. Many of the European settlers will also feel the los 3of their crops very keonly. In orio or two instances we hear of stock having to be sold, owing to the baab pastures being temporarily destroyed by bhe heavy flood deposits. Taken altogether, the 1893 flood has had no parallel, To far as a tfidasproaii duroago is cougcrocl, j and wo can heartily sympathise with fcbotfi; who have suffered through ib. i