FARMS BESIEGED BY FLOOD

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28013, 6 July 1956, Page 10

FARMS BESIEGED BY FLOOD

Waikato Valley Under Water SETTLERS AT LIMIT OF ENDURANCE (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. July 5. I No relief came today to the flooded farmlands and roads of the Waikato I and King Country. The only change ! in a siege by water, which is already taxing the financial and physical resources of many, was for the worse. ' Brief sunshine was followed still once more by drenching rain. Some farmers in the Ohinewai-Lake Waikare district have almost reached the limit of their physical and financial endurance in the present floods. A survey of 20 farms in the area today revealed the following grim positions:— One farmer with a herd of 60 cows had all his land under water. His herd is up for sale. Three farmers, with 40. 20 and 25 cows each, had only 10 acres of their land above the floods. Three more farmers, with herds of between 60 and 90 cows, had half their land under water. Another three farmers, with 60 cows each, had a third of their land under water. All 20 farmers had at least a third of their land under water. The area taken into account was all first-class land. Several farmers in both districts have built their own stopbanks. Some have spent as much as £ 1500. The stopbanks have now been washed away. As one farmer at Ohinewai expressed it: “We are nearly bankrupt.” Signs of the last big flood are evident where numbers of valuable shelter trees have died through “wet feet.” Many more will die after this flood, as they are now standing in several feet of water. Land that, three weeks ago, had a six-inch sole of grass is now covered in water—up to the fence-tops in places. The Ohinewai school bus will not be running tomorrow. It takes 60 pupils to the Waiterimu and Ohinewai schools and to Huntly College. An accident was narrowly averted when the bus brakes did not function because of water penetration. The driver said he would “not be putting to sea” tomorrow. MR GOOSMAN SEES FLOODED AREAS “READY TO GO AHEAD WITH CONTROL ” (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. July 5. A view of the sodden and flooded Waikato countryside was gained by the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman), who made a special flight from Wellington today to see for himself the effects of the recent almost continuous rains. After the flight. Mr Goosman said the Government was ready to go ahead with its part in plans to control the Waikato river and looked to the local bodies to do their full share. Next week, the Minister will meet local bodies at Hami’ton to discuss once again a Waikato Valley authority. Proposals for the authority were first drawn up in 1953.