WIDESPREAD DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 135, 5 December 1939, Page 15

WIDESPREAD DAMAGE

THE MARLBOROUGH FLOODS

FARMS, ROADS, AND

STOPBANKS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to tlto "Evening Post.")

BLENHEIM, This Day-

It is still not possible to estimate with accuracy what the full' losses will be ,to farmers who suffered in the flooded areas, but it is certain that large areas of crops are ruined and that general farming activities will be seriously affected for. some time. Communication with Picton is still interrupted owing to' ar large wash-out at Botham's Bend, just beyond Morrin's Hollow. In the Hollow itself traffic can proc'efed but the Wairau Pa road is not passable nor is there any access to White's Bay. It is considered.that communication with Picton will be restored tomorrow. Repairs have been effected to the approaches to the railway bridge over the Wairau River, and rail communication with Picton is proceeding as •• usual today. Communication between Blenheim and Nelson by the main highway has been restored, although in places the flood has left doleful evidence of extensive damage. The main south road at Riverlahds is also clear again, and traffic is getting through. Inspections carried out during the weekend have proved beyond any doubt that the Wairau River flood was as large as any that has been known. The policy of the River Board in strengthening and improving its protection works during past years, and planning for emergencies at various points which long experience had shown likely to be weak, received the fullest possible justification. Had it not been for the work carried out by the board from Thursday night onwards the effects of the flood would have been doubly felt, especially at Spring Creek. That area had the nar-rowest-of squeaks from disaster. j A great deal of valuable information as to what relief measures may be necessary was obtained by the board's inspector, Mr. O. R. Marshall, when he was taken for a flight over the flooded areas' by, Flight-Lieutenant Agar, of the air squadron stationed at Woodbourne. Later, boats were taken across to Morrin's Hollow and Mr. Marshall and another member of the board's staff undertook a tour of the flooded areas, more particularly towards the Maori pa. He called at practically every ho^use and handed over supplies from the boat. The stopbanks of the Wairau River have been breached in several places, more especially on the Tua Marina side of the river. Repair work has already commenced at several places and work is being carried out in cut-* ting the stopbanks to allow the flood waters to get back into the river.