LOSS OF CROPS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 2

LOSS OF CROPS

EAST COAST FLOODS

ESTIMATES OF THE DAMAGE

(0.C.) GISBORNE, this day. The loss of thousands of pounds worth of crops and stock as a result of the flood on the Gisborne flats was revealed in an estimate made by Mr. G. W. Armstrong to the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce. Out of 39,400 acres in tne Gisborne flat land, approximately 3000 acres had been very severely silted, he said. Between 2800 and 3000 acres were in maize crop and it was hoped to secure between 40,000 and 45,000 sacks at an estimated value of £1 a sack. Approximately 40 per cent of the crop had flood water through it in varying degrees, and in some cases silting had been severe. Little damage was apparent at present, and it was possible that some of the heavily-silted crops might die off, added Mr. Armstrong. If that occurred together with the small area that had been washed flat, the total loss would probably amount to 10 per cent. The crop of peas and beans totalled 1400 acres, the estimated value of which was from £30,000 to £33,000. About one-third of the crop was harvested before the flood, and of the balance 50 per cent could be regarded as totally destroyed, or so severely. destroyed as to be valueless. He estimated the loss at £12,000 to £15,000. In the wheat and barley district which had one of its smallest sowings for many years, the total area of the two crops covered not more than 300 to 400 acres. Practically all these crops were a total loss. Although some damage was done before the actual flood occurred, the flood completed the destruction.

3000 Head of Sheep Ijost Probably the total destruction of sheep would not exceed 3000 head, and apart from a few individual cases of flocks being swept away, the main loss appeared to have been with hoggets, said Mr. Armstrong. It was difficult to estimate the extent of the damage, through pasture silting, but apart from the areas most badly hit, silting had not been nearly as bad as many had expected, possibly due to the rapidity of the flow. It was impossible at present to estimate fencing losses.

In regard to vegetable crops, appreciable areas of carrots, cabbages, cauliflowers and kumaras had been grown by farmers throughout the flat, quite apart from normal market garden production.