FLOOD SIDELIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 10

FLOOD SIDELIGHTS.

FISHING LAUNCH DESTROYED.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this dav,

Accompanied by the countv engineer, Mr. G. Martin, Otonga riding member on the Whangarei County Council, was measuring the span of a broken bridge in the Helena Bay-Mokau area when the tape slipped into the water. Thinking that it had fallen into a shallow part near the bank he stepped into the water and at once disappeared. Wearing heavy oilskins and rubber boots he was badly handicapped, and when he made an attempt to clamber up the bank he slipped back into the flood. The engineer, Mr. J. Norris, however, helped Mr. Martin to safety with the aid of a pieoa of stick. At the Helena Bay beach Mr. Martin found that his 20-foot fishing launch, which had been left in the creek, had been smashed to pieces. Settlers in the Helena Bav district are heavy losers as a result of the floods, many of the extensive improvements which they had made to their [farms having disappeared overnight.On the route from Ho'ena Bay to Mokau alone damage to public property will run into considerably over four figures. The traffic way is blocked by 4500 yds ot spoil. Unless special assistance is forthcoming, about a month may elapse before the main Russell road is opened right through to Mokau. The chairman of the Whangarei County Council, Mr. J. A. S. MacKay, has approached the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Eraser, asking for assistance.