DESOLATION AND RUIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 7

DESOLATION AND RUIN

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PNEUMONIA *I. IjibW' MAORIS **S 3T * w k '

’■ ,&»WEBA. February 13. . screaming m radcously oyer , an all-pervading tsrcaseS the atmosphere for tic* deposit of ■*’ te-nfflF rleh paaiJt blowing under doors and W*. every breath; womeriolk orb inhaled at eve j courageous * verge °t £ r e s “ their pecked itruggte^ { com fort and orderham* wire but, a few of’ the toe ss— a re porter who Valley, near storm 10 days waters of the Ngutuwera The swept from the valley in a uppsr only to meet a wall of rtf* Kd UP in the Waitotara bacaea f The flood sprea d £ St hillsides and remained for Sarly & £ours- . , Almost Hopeless Task L. tHe valley still reveals a T(Hfa <rf utter desolation. Districts K® B °,i w buildings, bridges, and ■WSyiJ. matter ot rtraight:S?id lSonstmoti<m. but in Uus la % of the Waverley hinterthe settlers have almost a hopedealing with the silt deseveral leel deep rn P K’ conditions at the Maori settleJ?aS&orable. The Maoris have tto occupy their homes, and SoSa hS broken out. Efforts made to have the families wLwed to Waitotara. paths dug through the silt SttTeuly access. Winter food Applies of potatoes and corn are huned and one dwelling cannot be approached because of the presence, tider the- floor, of between 30 and S! dead fowls. A tennis court was defcned only by Us ceUapsed enclosure the net, which was buried to the top in mud. . Silt Feet Deep in Homes Near a house bedding was hung out to dry, while windows and doors stood open for the wind to blow through. Several families are still reclaiming treasured possessions from the silt, vhictfis feet deep in many homes, ftr, during the height of the flood, the water swept through them in a raging torrent; to pour out through windows and doors. Access to many settlers’ residences is possible only by tracks cut in the mud, and for days some were unable to get milk to the factory. One IjWjner has gK’en up his herd for the season, as his land is' completely . covered with silt, Five'miles inland on the WaitotaraA Ngamatapouri road, which extends for 40 null's into the “back of beyond,” ihere is, a total lack of conn ■'unication. To-dsty it was hoped to establish a horse track through the worst localities and thus enable necessities to. be taienJin. ePsogJer ipj|kin% cows in some of the backblocks areas are still msk away, and i farmers arOavmg Increasing difficulty in getting ewes.Vand . wethers into the markets.