SCENE OF THE DISASTER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 76, 1 April 1910, Page 8

SCENE OF THE DISASTER.

Paeroa is tituated on the delta formed by the Ohlnemuri and the Waihou rivers. It is again tho Ohinemuri which is the cause of the trouble. This is the stream in connection with which theie is such a strung agitation to get the Government to compel mining companies to cease emptying tailings into it. These tailings have banked up in many places and changed the whole course of the stream, while just about Paeioa township calling places at which the steamers used to tie up are now bo shallow that boats cannot gel near them (says the Auckland Star}. The river is a fairly sluggish one at the best, and with this enormous amount of silt being thrown iv every year the channel is quite unequal to the work of carrying off the flood water whenever the^ river rises above the ordinary level. , The settlers in the out-district* have many tales of past woe to tell, and Borne of their farms have been utterly ruined. The present is the biggest flood ever recorded in the district: It was recorded on Wednesday that Paeroa was flooded, the streets being in some places over three feet under water. The main street was a small torrent, and the lower parts of the town were rapidly disappearing from view. Most of the shops in the main, street were flooded. The line from Paeroa to Waihi rntrs along the bank of the Ohinemuri, and the service was suspended on Wednesday, owing to the rails being under water in a number of places. POSITION AT WAIROA. RIVERS FALLING. [BY TELEGRAPH — PEESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIROA, This Day. Though it is still raining slightly, the river.s have fallen considerably, especially the Wairoa, where the mouth Jast night was fully a thousand yards wide. The new Frasertown bridge stood the severe strain splendidly. The river rose 60 feet. The Scamperdowii bridge was badly damaged, and will need new piles. Stock losses have been heavy In young sheep.