HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 8

HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS.

HEAVY DAMAGE TO ROADS. ORCHARDS SUFFER BADLY. STOCK LOSSES ENAGUERATED. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) NAPIER, this day. The rivers, which rose its much its 14 feet, are now down to five or six feet above normal. There still remains a lot of water about on the low-lying parts. All telegraph linos to Tnupo have been repaired, also one to Wairoa. The linesmen hope that the service will be buck to normal to-morrow. The ollicers of the Defence Department, consider the equipment of the submerited battery camp at Eskdale van all be recovered. Trout fishing in the llawke's Ttay rivers is probably out of the question for a fortnight, but after that it is thought the fishing' will be good. It has been ascertained that fourteen huts at the Public Works camp at YVaipunga. on the East Coast railway, were tarried away by the Hood on Tuesday. The body of Thomas Hill, one of the employees, has not been recovered. The Chinese market gardeners at Taradale are among those who suffered severely. Extensive gardens are still either under water or are covered inches deep in silt. It is not anticipated there will be a shortage of supples, as titese are obtainable front Havelock Xortii and Hastings, which did not suffer from the deluge. Orchards in the affected areas also suffered severely. In fact, the crops are completely wiped out. The position with regard to damage to roads cannot lie exaggerated. "Many thousands of pounds will be required to put them in good order again. One of the most serious losses is the destruction of the big bridge. ISI feet long, at l'issington. It was built in three spans, one of 00 feet and two of 45 feet. Tt will cost .U-1000 to XoUOO to replace the bridge. it is estimated it will take a fortnighl to clear one slip at the top of Titiokura Hill on the Tattpo Road. Hundreds of other slips have occurred and dozens of small bridges have disappeared. Deposits of silt in some places, as the water recedes, is fifteen to eighteen inches deep. The services to the south are quite normal again. The conditions north of Napier are not yet definitely ascertained. To the south of Napier ali the material damage is confined to a, small area. Two unimportant roads are blocked, but the main roads south are all open. The total sheep losses are confined to one area, where up to ;>OO sheep and 100 head of cattle were lost, previous estimates being ex-aggerated.