MARLBOROUGH FLOODS
AIRMEN EVACUATE FAMILIES “The Press” Special Service BLENHEIM, June 18. A search and rescue team from the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Woodbourne, worked from 11 a.m. until dusk yesterday rescuing people and stock from flood waters which swept parts of the Blenheim district. When operations ceased last night the Air Force men had evacuated more than 60 persons, besides pigs, cattle, sheep, and fowls. Some of the people were rescued by tractor and trailer and others by boats and rubber dinghies. The 19-man team, led by Flying Officer B. Hildreth, Wellington, battled through the swollen Spring Creek in an attempt to reach the Maori pa, which is isolated to the east of the stream. After going a quarter of a mile, the men had to turn back. “It’s been a hard day,” Senior-Ser-geant S. J. Lush, of the Blenheim police, who directed operations throughout the day, said last night. Several farmers had had to cut fences to let stock get to higher ground. One of the largest families removed to safety was six strong. Four children were taken out in a tractordrawn trailer.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XC, Issue 27380, 19 June 1954, Page 6
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187MARLBOROUGH FLOODS Press, Volume XC, Issue 27380, 19 June 1954, Page 6
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