SODDEN AND SCARRED.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17748, 27 April 1923, Page 11

SODDEN AND SCARRED.

! EFFECT OF DUNEDIN | FLOODS. DEVASTATION REVEALED BY RECEDING WATERS. (SPECIAL 10 "?HB 1-EISS.'') DUNEDIN, April 26. Tho flood waters are receding from ail the submerged areas, and the outlook is brighter all round. The relief measures have been so splendidly supported by gifts of food, clothing, and bedding that, so far, those in charge of the depot have not found it necessary to touch tho money gifts made. | Traversing tho main south road from Lookout Point to Green Island, a i "Star" reporter was able to see the I ruin which ha 3 been brought abont in I this area. The scene is almost indescribable. Desolation meets tho eye in every direction, commencing from the foot of the incline. On the Burnside end the road is seen to be in a very bad state. When the flood waters swept over tho low-lying parts, the metal was rooted up and carried long distances, thus leaving a scarred surface and potholes by tho score. Tho country all around presents a sodden and scarred appearance. Pools of water are still to be seen in the paddocks, and creeks, which in normal times are merely babbling brooks, are still overcharaed with clay-coloured volumes of water. Between Burnsido and Green Island many washouts and slips have occurred. Tho whole area covered by the Burnsido stock yards presented a sight on Tuesday never seon before by the oldest inhabitant. Cattle and sheep, in their dejected and rain-soaked state, added to the impression of misery. The county engineer, reporting to the Taieri Council, says:—l am not yet in a position to advise you of tho estimated cost of repairs, but from what 1 l ave seen it is safe to say that provision must be made for flood damage repair of even a more extensive nature than that incurred in 1900 and 1908; that is, if the Council decides to rebuild in a permanent manner the structures that have been destroyed and the roads that have been damaged. Brighton is still out of reach for vehicles. Two bridges are down, and it will be several days before temporary repairs can bo effected. A mile beyond Ifaikorai bridge an immense lagoon has been formed, and a cut is being made through the sandhills to let the water away. Several of the low-lying houses in the township near the streams were inundated. The tierce current has carried away the sand below the bridge, so that the bathing beach will have to make up again. Between Brighton and the Taieri mouth there are numer'ous washouts in the road. The Clutha farms on all the low levels are all ■more or less affected. Debris has accumulated over a wide area, and fences have been knocked about considerably between Balclutha and Milton and over the stretch of country to Green Island. Stacks of grain recently threshed have suffered serious damage. A large quantity' of grain is still in stook, and this has also been practically ruined. _ One large field of turnips was thickly covered with loose straw, which had been, washed from the stacks and grain fields. All the farmhouses in the lowlying areas are still almost surrounded by water. The stock that shared some of tho earlier experiences of the flood still present a dejected appearance. The' Toads are covered with a thick layer of debris and silt. There have been numerous slips and washouts, but the roads are passable for motor-cycles and vehicles if proper care is exor■P'something like £IOOO has been subscribed to the various relief funds for flood sufferers. The Rev. King's fund totals £350, but the supply of goods has been so abundant that the bureau has not had to spend a single penny. A Taieri farmer stated that tne breaks in the Taieri River, which so disastrously flooded the plains, wore caused by the ramifications of rabbit holes He concludes that this is so from the fact that instead of bursting under pressure, the banks opened j>ut from the 'bottom.