THE BLENHEIM FLOODS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 8

THE BLENHEIM FLOODS

FARMERS' SERIOUS LOSSES

HELP FROM WELLINGTON AND ELSEWHERE BEING RECEIVED.

(IT TBIIGKAPH.—PIUBS ASSOCIATION.)

BLENHEIM, This Day.

Speaking at a meeting of the Borough Council last night, the Mayor said that the flood was the gravest disaster which

had ever befallen the district. Some settlers in the Whittle's Bend locality had lost everything on their farms, and some mipht lost even their farms unless the local authorities were successful in turning the water back to its original channels. ' . In other part* of the district the losses were not so severe, and could be made up. In Blenheim the working people had suffered severely. It was -stated that some people were sleeping on wet beds. In this connection the Mayor stated that the Catholic authorities had given the use of St. Patrick's Hall, and the Hospital' Board had promised to provide blankets. > A Red CroBS offer had been received from Wellington, said the Mayor, the assistance taking the form of clothes,' etc. Viscount JelHcoe had wired his sympathy and regret at the serious damage done, and the consequent distress, and offers of assistance had been received- from all over the country, including the Mayor and councillors of Picton. Money was coming in freely for the purpose of relief funds, but it will be only a drop in the ocean of distress and need.

The body of John Ernest Gledhill, one of the victims of the Grovetown tragedy, was found about a chain from the spot where the body of the late Mr. E. E. Robinson's was recovered. An inquest was held last evening, and a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned.

The countryside generally is in an awful mess. Road communication has been opened up between Picton and Blenheim, and cars are able to get through, but railway traffic is still dislocated owing to washouts. Business people are getting down to normal again.