PLIGHT OF FAMILIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 3

PLIGHT OF FAMILIES.

WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. SCENES AFTER FLOOD. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) TAUMARUNUI, Thursday. Taumarunui is a town of silt and drying bedding. Down on the flats where the floods were fiercest and the damage was worst, fence after fence carries family bedding drying in the sun. Out in what were the front gardens of most of the homesteads, furniture, pianos, gramophones and radios are parked. One of the homes most affected was that of Constable J. McLennan, formerly of Mount Eden, now stationed in Taumarunui. Even now 2ft of water lies about the house, and inside there is slush inches deep. At the height of the flood there was close on Oft of water around the house. All his furniture and belongings have been ruined. Constable McLennan's house is on the flats, where the water raged its fiercest. He waded down the street to carry out rescue work before he took his own family to safety. When the last family in that locality was rescued at 2.15 on Tuesday morning the onrushing water was so strong that it was impossible to walk against it. Struggle in Flood. A human chain was formed from the roadway to the house in an effort to bring the last family to eafety, but so strong was the rush of water that the chain broke and it was only by clinging to a telegraph post that Sergeant Sivyer saved himself from being washed away. Constable McLennan, after a great struggle, managed to take the family to safety. Crops and gardens around the affected district have' all been devastated. Timber from houses in course of being built was washed a mile away and now lies tangled up with trees on the river bank. Families are working hard and fast to-day trying to restore their broken homes. Shovels, rakes, hoes and all manner of implements are being used to clean houses and gardens of silt. Children have given up their lessons and are working to clean out tbeir schools. Live Stock Lost. One distressing feature of the flood was the loss of animal life. Hens had no chance in the swirling waters. _ In the. Taumarunui saleyards at the time (if the flood were TOO sheep, 103 of which wore drowned. The fences in the yards were swept away, and of 800 head of cattle, 45 are missing. Many have been seen wandering and bellowing miles away. They swam away with the tide on the night of the flood. Inches of silt lie on the recreation ground. The bowling green is no more. Football, hockey and cricket grounds are unplayable, and the asphalt tennis courts are still under water. Yet, through it all the people of Taumarunui smile. Those worst nffected are the brightest. One story which persists in the town is that a girl of IC, who said that, with three other girls, she saw the body of a boy floating past Motapuna Bridge early yesterday morning. So far no person has been reported to the police as missiog.