COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIPU. - The committee of the Waipu Agricultural Association made a donation of _5 to tbe Belgian Fund, 425 to the local Ladies' Sewing Guild, and £25 to be sent-to the High Commissioner, to be used at his discretion for the use of Empire soldiers. It has : been decided' b> the committee to hold their annual show on February 23 as a patriotic show, and that It be left with the members to say what funds the proceeds will be devoted to. After a, week's threatening weather and ■light rain a heavy downpour occurred on tbe 3rd Inst., and caused one of the highest floods here In some parts of the district known, to some of the oldest settlers. Fortunately, the damage done was small compared to. what has been experienced elsewhere. All the low lands were submerged and buildings on them completely flooded. Several of the larger bridges have been damaged, some of them considerably, and fences on the flat have been completely torn away with the debris. In some places big willow trees have been completely uprooted. Although so.high, there was no loss of life, and very little lire stock lost, the loss being confine* mostly to fowls and pigs. In places on the flats there Is such a beavy coating of silt left on the ground That the grass Is completely burled. Xearly all the farmers In the dairy industry have their graalu considerably curtailed. There Was about three feet of water in.the butter factory, where some damage was done before the stores (such as salt, parchment, etc.) could be removed to a higher level: but. fortunately, It did not reach Into the cool-room, where there were about ten tons •of butter stored.