FLOODS FALLING

Evening Star, Issue 18259, 26 April 1923, Page 9

FLOODS FALLING

Further Glimpses oi Relief Work TAIERI POSITION BAD The flood waters are receding from all submerged areas, and the outlook is brighter all round. The relief measures have been so splendidly supported by gifts of food, clothing, and bedding that so far those In charge of the depot have not found it necessary to touch the money gifts* made.

WITH THE RESCUE CART A DAY ID SUBMERSED SOUTH DUHEDIH. THE “ EHN ” OF DOING A GOOD TURN. When the Rev. Geo. Motion askeel •Star’ reporter on Tuesday mgl t Jm.M lilte to accompany OM ;r,ip.r^or g d l it , ::id been litXd with food « .tart for South Dunedin. The captain of the ‘craft” was Mr Syd. Dunldey, we » known in philanthropic work; the _ lieu tenant was a young lady also in volunteer relief expeditions; tho midshipman was a schoolboy full °f el j U siasm; while tho man at the jheel (or at the reins) was the willing and capable driver. Shortly after operations began the reporter asked to be signed on as extra hand, and his services were accepted. A PULL MENU. SOUP TO DESSERT APPLES. On the way out a baker at Cargills Corner handed out fifty loaves of for distribution. Later in the day he supplied another twenty-five. The whole stock on tho cart, was, indeed, just one example of the spontaneous generosity of firms and individuals in the city and suburbs. Everything that could possibly be wanted was' there, from rich, warm soup to dessert apples, with butter, cooked meat, vegetables, stewed fruit, tinned and fresh milk, coffee, cocoa, rice, flour, and a string o’? etceteras in between. That this caravan of good things (which was but one of many so engaged) brought considerable comfort to these damp and desolate homes was abundantly evident to those who carried the viands to the doors. TEE INSIDE VIEW. The thousands of people who went out south during the day to view the extraordinary sight of the submerged flat really got but a slight idea of the actual state of affairs. They saw what once were streets, but now were canals of claycolored water, in which men, women, and children (and especially children) were wading anything from ankle to knee deep; they saw people marooned in upstairs rooms, with the water lapping the door knobs on the lower floors; they saw occasional carts and motor cars splashing their way through these streets, the occupants being, there either to help the distressed or out of mere curiosity; they saw all these things, and exclaimed “ How dreadful! ” felt genuinely sorry, and went borne to lea. THE INSIDE STORY. But the crews of the rescue carts saw more than this. They saw the insides of tho flooded houses; and a distressing enough sight it was. The reporter, who had thought it would be “ good fun,” soon realised that the unfortunate residents of the flooded districts had no occasion to regard it as such. Entering thg houses through lanes of deep water, the first thing noticed was. usually, stacked furniture —bedding on tables, chairs on bedding, smaller things on the chairs. In some cases the linoleum had been hastily torn up and added to the heap, while here and there, whenever the water had sufficiently cleared from the floors, cleaning up had begun, and soaked and soiled garments, carpets, and so on, were hung out on lines and on .fences.

A family of ten were carried into tho top room of another house, the lower floors being feet under water. They refused to leave, saying they would carry on so long as food was obtainable. This determination to stick to tho homo was very noticeable, only those houses that were absolutely uninhabitable being deserted. Another family numbered fourteen, and seven of the children were removed to tho Anglican Rest Home, leaving the balance to stay and watch the gradually receding water and to try to salvage as much as possible of tho treasured belongings that had temporarily disappeared. THE WORST AREAS. The streets that were in the worst condition were Glasgow street and Reid road. Here the water was knee high almost everywhere, and in some back yards and front gardens even deeper. Once in the latter street the temporary member of the crew made a false step, with the result that his wdtfers were filled to tho brim. He muttered a blessing over the food he happened to be carrying at the time. From the upper windows of a terrace of two-story houses in Glasgow street eager heads wore thrust, and baskets were Ist down on strings and ropes, just as they are from the ship's side at Teneriffe and other spots to the swarm of boats bringing fruit from the shore. Before reaching the locality the “extra hand” was told of tho extraordinary penchant displayed by the youth of Glasgow street Tor cocoa, and no sooner had the relief cart entered that watery thoroughfare than a dozen boys splashed after it, each of them anxiously inquiring “ Have you any cocoa, miss? ” Tins unanimous vote in favor of tho product of Cadbury and others was not apparent anywhere else, and to the “extra hand” at least the mention of Glasgow street will in future always suggest cocoaIn the two streets just mentioned children abounded, and they were having “ the time of their lives,” sharing not at all the anxieties of thSir elders. They held regattas, with tin trunks and old boxes as outriggers, and one youngster who possessed something almost resembling a real boat was obviously tho Admiral Beatty, or at the least the Commodore Hanlon, of the fleet. Other boys emulated the stilted Dutchman, while their comrades did their best to bring them down to earth—or rather to water. ON WITH THE WORK. And on and on went the rescue cart. The crew managed to get some lunch at an eating-house in Cargill road, the proprietors of which refused point blank to take payment. “You're doing your bit,” rhe said, and that was all. Afternoon tea was provided by the Cargill’s Corner baker in the same hospitable manner. A fresh load of provisions, including a huge billy of steaming soup, was sent out from the bureau, and the cart continued its rounds, discreet inquiries disclosing the most needy cases, until at 5.30 or thereabouts the extra hand had to get shore leave and depart for another engagement. From what he had seen during the long day’s work he was thoroughly satisfied that the Dunedin public, the bureau helpers, and all others concerned were doing their humane work marvellously well. He also felt pleased that he had been allowed to do a bit of work and to get wet in such a good cause. There is no doubt that help will have to continue to be given. The biggest need for practical assistance is just beginning, and will continue through the Reconstruction period of the devastated homes. But doubtless the Dunedin citizens will “come to light” just as they do every time they are needed. TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL. . Tn his report to the Taieri County Council, dated to-day, Mr B. B. Couston, the county engineer, makes the following statement:— ° The Taieri Plain is flooded and a great number of the cqunty roads and bridges closed for repair. Up to April 21 the prospects were good that at tho end of tneir term of office tho council would be in the position of having fulfilled all their engagements, and, moreover, be able to hand over the roads in good condition and tree of liability to the incoming council. But the exceptionally heavy rain which fell on the night of tho 21st, and continued all day of the 22nd, wrought havoc throughout the country, and destroyed bridges, water openings, and culverts, washed away road embankments, caused landslides on the sidelong roads, and even where there were no intersecting watercourses, the roads were themselves for the time converted to storm-water carriers, and the metal and gravel were scoured from the formation.

The state of the floors and surroundings generally of these emerged habitations was enough to -fill the heart of any housekeeper with utter despair—the slime and dirt left by the flood, the horrid dank smell, the household goods ruined beyond hope, the weeks of wprk ahead before matters cquld be straightened. There was a pathetic humor about the apologies for “being in such a mess” that some of these housewives felt called upon to offer. And tho skipper’s eyes would twinkle as he' answered, “ Well, we didn’t expect to find you all bright and shiny.”

In the worst areas the water reached almost to the top of the kitchen range, and it was a cold and dismal scene that the distressed householder looked upon. If there was an upstairs room the occupants were lucky. There was a chance of a bit of fire—if” a few sticks were obtainable, and the builder had thought to put a fireplace in one of the rooms. Otherwise tho inmates mooned about with shawlcovered shoulders or looked out on the scene in the street, that was nothing but a huge stopped-up gutter. As a rule the sufferers took their misfortune with the stoicism that is noticeable among the poorer classes. Indeed there was even a partial cheerfulness observed occasionally, a spirit of “it might have been worse.” The thought came into one’s mind that the returned soldiers who were among the sufferers must have been forcibly reminded of their Flanders experiences. The matter of offering succor is often a delicate one, by the way, and a new chum at the game might easily offend the pride of some of these folk, of which many of the non-rich are possessed. But the skipper is an experienced hand and knows the rones thoroughly. Certainly several offers’were declined, but it was invariably with the words, “ I can manage to get along, thanks; give it to someone who needs it more.” SOME EXPERIENCES. The experiences related by some of the people visited were often grim, and no doubt exciting stories could have been obtained had time permitted. But the business in hand was the distribution of necessities, and this had to be attended to with promptness and despatch. One middle-aged woman, who was brought to town for a little warmth and comfort, said that her husband was bedridden, and bad to be earned away from the house. The inmates knew nothing ot the flood until about 5 o’clock on Monday morning, when the wife felt her bed rocking slightly. She paid little heed, however, thinking that perhaps it might be an earth tremor. Shortly afterwards a loud knock came at the do on ,ihe milkman’s early this morning, she _ exclaimed, and jumped out of bed—into three feet of water. The chairs were floating about tho room, so were sundry boxes, clothing, and other artic.es. _ -f he knocking had been done by a neighbor who had come to see how things were. The back room in this house is lower than the front one, and even yesterday morning there was two feet of water in it. The wife stood in fqur inches of water in the front room for hours on. Monday, waiting.

It will not be known to what, extent the roads and bridges are damaged at South and East Taieri till the water has subsided, but the damage that has occurred outside this area is very great. On the Green Island to Taieri Mouth, road all the water openings and culverts, except those of recent construction, have been destroyed, and on the Main South road almost every culvert that has been opened has been found on examination to be so undermined as to require renewal. Tho only consolation is that the damage has generally occurred to structures which have served their day, and although tho council will bo faced with an immediate heavy expenditure on bridges and culverts alone, the outlay will be in the nature of renewals which would have had in any case to be met in the course of tho next few years. Fulton’s bridge at Woodside and the Taieri Mouth culverts arc typical illustrations of this. The surfacemen are now employed clearing slips and debris from the roads and making safe in a temporary manner culverts that have been undermined, and it will be a month before the roads have been overhauled in this manner. The main roads are being first attended, and after that the by-roads will be seen to. I am not yet in a position to advise you of the. estimated cost of Repairs, but from what I have seen it is safe to say that provision must be made )for flood damage repair of even a more extensive nature than, that incurred in 1900 and 1908—that is, if the council decides to rebuild in a permanent manner the structures that have been destroyed and the roads that have been damaged. BRIGHTON STILL ISOLATED. Brighton is still out of reach for vehi cles. Two bridges (Bush’s and one near Fagan’s) are down, and it will be several days before temporary repairs be effected. A mile beyond Kaikorai bridge an immense lagoon has formed, and a cut is being inside through the sandhills to let the water away. Several of the low-lying houses in the township near tho streams were inundated. The fierce current has carried away the sand below the bridge, so that the bathing beach will have to make no again. Between Brighton and Taieri Mouth there are numerous washouts ia tho road,

SCENES ON THE FLAT WATERS SLOWLY CLEARING. A DEPRESSING EXPERIENCE. Half Dunedin spent yesterday afternoon seeing how the other half lived, and tho manner of life of the second half was not cheerful. As it was tho first dry day—atmospherically speaking—since the deluge and a holiday to boot, those parts of the town which had suffered most from tho flood became a resort for crowds of visitors from tho more fortunate parts, in cars and traps and on foot, curious to observe the devastation and what progress had been made in the relieving of it. Tho house in Wilkie road 1 which was dislodged by a landslip and pushed through the side wall of tho one next to it was a main centre of attraction; and from here the sightseers ranged over tho Flat, finding melancholy subjects of interest in a Dunedin new to them. Tho flood waters had all been cleared from the Kensington streets, hut they had left behind’ heavy deposits of silt, which the council’s carts were removing. It was drying day—and washing day—on tho Flat. A number of soaked carpets stretched across the goal posts on tho Oval gave early indication of the fact. Further back from the city most of the residents were engaegd in cleaning out their houses and drying them with the aid of fires, when fires could bo lit. Windows were throw:! wide open to assist tho process, and furniture, piled in heaps, which could be seen through them, told its own story of the discomfort within. Never before were tho Elat’s inhabitants so peered upon, but it was with eyes of friendly sympathy and compassion. In many case?, whore Iho water had partly cleared, planks stretched across fruit boxes to the front door or like contrivances told of difficulties of access still not entirely ended l . In other instances, where water had not actually entered the houses, the sections on which they stood were completely submerged. Men baled the water from their paths or swept it energetically into channels. Women labored at their floors. Clothes hung to dry on clothes lines. Two days of bright sunshine would do more perhaps than anything else that can be imagined to briflg cheerfulness, as well a* dryness, into these damp dwellings. They would be the surest safeguard against colds and worse complaints that are to be feared. There was no sun yesterday, though the rain had ceased. The most valiant hearts among the Flat dwellers must have found thenexperience depressing. The one improvement in the position, as compared with previous days, was that over large areas the streets were dry. _ Carisbrook Ground, however, was still a lake, though its waters had appreciably subsided. A greater expanse of water, with no dry spots, was presented by Bathgate Park and the Chinamen’s gardens beyond it. Macandrew road, and the streets that intersect it on the Ocean Beach side of King Edward street, made a bad quarter. All these streets were still under water, though not so deep that a bicycle could not 'traverse it. One footpath that was continuously clear, and emergency devices at some crossings, made Macandrew road negotiable for foot passengers without the necessity of wading. At its intersection with King Edward street a supplementary pumping plant had been brought into play, and with its help, and the deepening of channels, the water was being cleared away more rapidly. All tho streets running parallel with Macandrew road, almost to tho sea front, on the lower side of King Edward street, were still under water. On tho harbor side of that dividing line they were completely dry until one came to Musselburgh, where the pedestrian had to choose his road to be sure of any continuous passage by so much as a footpath. The Queen’s drive was completely dry. the new main laid down in that thoroughfare having proved tho greatest blessing. Most of the streets were dry towards the foreshore, tho operations performed on the big storm water conduit which runs along tho line of tho southern reclamation, and the opening of manholes (only meant to be used for tho clearing of mains) having done much for the relief of that part of the Flat which is nearest tho harbor. There were mapy visitors also to the north end of tho town, where the floods did serious damage. Generally speaking, it is tho Flat, however, which has had the worst of this experience. The inundation covered a much wider area there, and it is lasting longer. There was much less water lying on Tainui yesterday. Contrary to expectations, and to appearances from a distance, few houses in this low-lying district were actually entered by the flood, most of the dwellings having been built high through fear of such a disaster. TAIERI RIVER BANKS

BREACHES CAUSED BY SUBSIDENCE. RABBIT HOLES THE INITIAL TROUBLE. An anxious Taieri farmer thus records his observations; Tho Silverstream rose more rapidly than I ever saw before and to a higher level. In nine or ten hours it became a raging torrent to the top of tho banks in the North Taieri. I watched it at a high part, between tho Black Bridge and Gordon rpad. You may guess that when tho Silverstream is bank high at that point it is doing something in its lower courses. Generally, in time of flood, the Silverstream takes twice that lime to got bank high, if it ever docs reach such a level. On this occasion it was brimful by S o’clock on Sunday morning. By 11 o’clock I got to Riverside, and found that the Taieri River was a foot below normal: but at 3 p.m. on Sunday it had risen 4ft 6in or thereabouts, and was strong and menacing, though not what you might call boiling. At 7 a.m. on Monday the river appeared to he not far below the maximum of the 1917 flood, and it was then that the bank at Gibson's broke, a few cha.inp from tho main road to Outram, on the East Taieri side. At two other points on the East Taieri side the bank also gave way. One of these breaks was at the railway bridge, the other at Brensil’s. The immediate effect was lo lower -,he fin..,! ic-ve' considerably by letting in the water on the East Taiori side.

In addition two breaks took place in the East Tail'd bank between Uibaoa’s and tie rail wav bridge. On tho West Taicri side there was a large break of about two chains in the old bank, which was erected maybe forty years ago. I am told that another break occurred at Young's. Then came tho very serious break at Otokia, near tiro railway bridge at a point where repairs wore made after a flood that happened some years back.

Tho effect ot these breachis was to very much lower tho. water on the East Taieri side, but at the expense of the West Taieri side, since tho flood' found vent in that direction.

As I saw it on Tuesday miming, the whole countryside from Allanton to iVfnnngatua looked like a huge lake, stacks showing here and there, some of the houses so submerged as to have tho water up to their windows. The breaks were contributed to, and I think caused, by rabbit hoies. From this I exempt tho Otokia break, of which I cannot speak. As to tho others, rny opinion ie quite definite and upon reason, for the brinks, as I stood watching them, did not burst in the way one would expect to see them burst und< r direct p - (F,‘iiie, but they opened out from tho bottom, and you could see here and there as the earth 'fell in the traces of the burrows. My observation in regard to tho break at Gibsou’s was particularly clear, and I am positive that the bank at that point gave way from the bottom. There is o doubt in my mind as to the lesson tanglit —ono of the lessons, at any rate. It'is that when we start to build up these broaches we must take care to make the bank rabbit-proof, eke it will always be dangerous.

According to what I saw in my tour on Tuesday morning the greatest damage on the Taiori will bo on tho west side, from Momona in a westerly direction towards Maungatua. That area is largely devoted to dairying and cropping. I am afraid that a lot of tho wheat that had been threshed was not got in in time. One especially exasperating case of hardship came to my notice. It was that of a man who had £SOO worth of wheat on railway trucks at Olokia, the trucks standing in a dangerous place. Ho begged that an engine bo put on to draw the trucks up the incline, and so get his wheat out of harm’s way. When this could not be done ho suggested that an engine be got from the coal mine; and hq.next asked that ho bo allowed to get horses to drag tho trucks up a bit. All to no purpose. It seems to bo regarded as tho equivalent of murder to move hand or foot, unless it is prescribed by regulation, when anything has come in cliarge of tho Government. This flood completely disproves one theory regarding the Taieri river banks. A Commission that sat a while ago recommended that certain gaps on the East Taiori side should not bo closed up, the idea being that bv leaving them open they would save the west side. That notion is now knocked on tho head, because the East Taieri _ banks broke this time a considerable while before tho West Taiori banks gave way. A fresh scheme of river protection is something that wo must have, and many think with me that when that scheme comes about it will have to set back the banks so ns to give flood waters more plav. The willows are an ugly menace in preventing tho flow of tho water. They arc particularly bad on the railway properly at Allauton. RUSHING THROUGH TUNNEL FLOOD WATERS FROM HIGH LEVELS. Tho flood waters from tho high levels all swept down the hillsides and gullies into the basin near the Burnside railway station'. On Sunday afternoon the water was almost up to the level of the station platform, and raced towards the mouth of the new tunnel like a cataract. This water came- from Concord, Corstorphinc, and the hills back of St. Clair. The culvert over the railway linos about 50yds from the mouth of the tunnel quickly overflowed, and the huge deluge running down the clay cutting weakened this, ami a, largo fall took place, the clay depositing itself in a largo heap across both tracks. Gangs have been working continuously ever since, and the down track was cleared on Tuesday morning. Not finding any other outlet, the everincreasing body of water flowed like a torrent into the new tunnel and swept through this with a terrific roar. It emerged from the city end of the tunnel like "a black raging torrent, spilling ils millions of gallons in every direction. It was thus the accumulation of Hood waters from the hills and gullies around Burnside which helped to flood Cavcrshara and a part of South Dunedin. DELIVERING THE MAILS. POSTMEN’S EXPERIENCES. His Majesty’s mails were delivered by the postmen under very trying and exciting conditions on Monday, and while many of the men were baulked in their work at some suburban streets', and had thrilling experiences, others had equally exciting limes at their own homes in rescuing their household goods. On Monday morning the postmen who traverse the south end of the city found Smith Dunedin, Kensington, St. Kilda, Kcw, and St. Clair unapproachable, and they had to return to the office with the contents of their bags. The men who deliver in the north end from Leith street to tho low-lying parts of tho North-east Valley were also turned back. Several postmen were compelled to remain in their homes owing to the depth of water which surrounded them, and the Post Office carried ou with a reduced staff. It was found necessary to split up tho “walks” for tho north end of the city, but everything practically was delivered in the streets which were not flooded. - All correspondence for the business quarter of the. city was delivered on .Monday. Two complete deliveries were made on Tuesday in all parts of the city and tho hill suburbs, including the. North-cast Valley. A delivery was made in a portion of South Dunedin, two complete deliveries in St. Clair, the business portion of South Dunedin and Kensington, and two deliveries in all places which were accessible. Tho men experienced no trouble whatever in their delivery work in the Maori Hill, Roslyn, Kaikorai, Mornington, Bellsknowes, and Cavcrsliam Rise districts. The mounted’ men with their traps made complete deliveries, with the exception of a small portion of the south end territory, where tho water was found to be too deep for tho vehicles to get through. Most of these men had some very trying experiences. The water in some of the areas negotiated was level with the floor of the carts. The men were provided with gum Roots, and they wore thus able to carry out their work dry shod, although under unpleasant conditions at times.

The postmen were only able to deliver in portions of St. Andrew, King, and Union streets on Monday.

Every man worked with a good spirit under very trying conditions, and their work was all the more creditable when it is taken into consideration that many of them had been engaged all Sunday night removing their families and their household goods to a place of safety. Two postmen residing in the flooded area in South Dunedin were unable to come in until Tuesday morning. They were engaged throughout Sunday night and Monday in removing tho contents of their homos from the clutches of tho rising flood'waters. Ono postman was held up at Port Chalmers, and when ho did eventually succeed in getting through to Dunedin*he found it 'impossible to approach his homo in St. Andrew street, ns it was surrounded by a sea of water. Another postman residing in Eden street had an anxious time. Tho flood invaded his house to a depth of about 2ft, and his family w;is removed in a conveyance. Fortunately tho Post Office did not have anv heavy incoming mails to deal with during tho trying period. A small English mail came to hand on Monday night by tho north exp-ess, but this was quickly sorted that night and delivered on Tuesday morning by a* depleted but cheerful! staff. TAXIS STRANDED. While the taxi drivers have had a very busy time during tho past few days, several of them have suffered a loss. Five taxi owners contracted on Sunday evening to bring people back to the city from I’orlobollo. They reached their destination in safety, but met with disaster on the return journey. Several slips occurred on the Lower Portobello road, and _fha cars wore caught between those. The party was held up this side of Challis's, and had to complete the journey to town on font. The- slips were cleared sufficiently, through tho efforts of Mr Rowlands'and a gang of men, late yesterday afternoon to enable the cars tq complete the journey to Dunedin.

WONDERFUL RELIEF WORKS ACTIVITIES AT THE OLD POST OFFICE. MERCHANTS AND HARD-UPS VIE IN RESPONDING. NOT A SINGLE PENNY OF MONEY YET SPENT. A further visit to the old Post Office this morning produced a chorus of thanks and acknowledgments from the Rev. V. G. Bryan King and those who are working in conjunction with him in relieving distress. Tho response to tho call has been simply unparalleled. Nothing like it has over occurred within tho knowledge of those who usually step in to help when a necessity arises. Persons of all ranks have striven to out-do each other in sityMerchants and other business folk are sending in unlimited supplies of stores and given permission to draw on their stocks to almost any extent. Yesterday, though a holiday, members of different firms reported at the bureau and personally opened warehouses and] shops for the replenishing of such stores as were running low. The president, tho secretary, and the treasurer of the Otago Labor Council attended and made donations on behalf of the various unions, and showed Labor’s sympathy, also, by handing in lists of men who were prepared to undertake tho work of cleaning up inundated homes. So numerous wero the offers of persona] service that scores had to ho declined.

SOUTH OF LOOKOUT POINT. AN INDESCRIBABLE SCENE. DESOLATION ON EVERY SIDE. Traversing the Main South road from Lookout Point to Green Island, a ‘Star’ reporter was able to seo the ruin which has been brought about in this area. The econo is almost Desolation meets the eye in every direction. Commencing from iho foot of the incline on tho Burnside end, the road is seen to be in a very bad state. When the flood waters swept over tho low-lying parts the metal was rooted up and carried long distances, thus leaving a scarred surface and potholes by tho score. The country all around presents a sodden and scarred appearance. Pools of water are still to be seen in paddocks and greens, and creeks which in normal times are merely babbling brooks, are still overcharged with clay-colored volumes of water. Between Burnside and Green island many washouts and slips have occurred. The damage at Burnside and tureen Island has been very extensive. Many of the residents living in the low-lying areas will be heavy losers. Some idea of the force of the torrents which swept this part of the country may bo gained from the fact that the residence_ of Mr J. Miller, close to Harraway’s mill, was stripped of its weather-boards on one aide; the fences, both back aud_ front, swept clean away; while all the soil from the garden was stripped bare almost to the rock foundation. In fact, the place is almost a complete wreck. In another house at Burnside the torrent swept through from tho back door and spilled itself out the front door, carrying any small article of furniture with it. _ The occupiers were compelled to hastily retreat to the top story, where they wore compelled to remain until the torrent if:ceded. Almost every house, yard, and garden in Burnside and Green Island carries a layer of silt and mud to a depth of several inches; and it will be days yet before things can be properly straightened up. Many families at both places had to be hurriedly removed to the houses of friends when the flood waters invaded their domains. At the present moment two and three families are housed under one roof. When the flood was at its height the water reached a level of fully 2ft in most of the houses in the vicinity of Harrawav’s mill.

Amazing pluck has been shown by ladies in helping to feed tho hungry ones in isolated dwellings. Donning gum boots am! macintoshes, tho gentle sex have bravely faced emergencies and never thought of sparing themselves by day or by night. Anzao Day of 1923 will long ho remembered by those who gathered in. the kitchen about 3 p.rn., and, seated on sacks of potatoes or other resting places, partook of a. frugal meal 1 after finishing the da.y’s_ work of feeding the hundreds of families who but for such aid would have hard nothing to cat. TV meals supplied yesterday ami tho day before numbered thousands. Each day over five tons of food was distributed. Twelve express loads went out each day, every one full, and this outgo was supplemented by what was taken in motor cars.

TEE BURNSIDE YARDS. VEGETABLES, SILT, AND DRIFTWOOD. The whole area covered by tho Burnside stock yards presented a siglit on Tuesday never seen before by the oldest inhabitant. Tlie cattle and sheep in their dejected and rain-soaked state added to the impression of of misery. The Kaikorai Stream was unable to carry the huge volume, which poured into it contiguously, and it quickly overflowed its banks lawmany places. Perhaps the most damage was done at tho Chinese gardens in tho Upper Kaikorai Valley. Sweeping across the whole stretch of land tilled by the Chinese, the overflow from the Kaikorai Stream gave tho appearance of a huge lake. It carried everything before it. The water swept onward until it emptied itself in one huge torrent into tho Burnside yards, which were quickly covered to a depth of fully 3ft. The yards presented a weird siglit,only iho posts and rails of the pens being visible. The wafer rccecded suddenly on Monday, and left behind a varied collection of vegetables. THE TAIERI. BIG BREAK IN BANK AT BLAIR’S. WAIHOLA ABOVE ITS EMBANKMENTS. GAPS IN CONTOUR CHANNEL. MAIN ROADS BEING REPAIRED FIRST. Mr B. B. (Houston reports that (ho Taieri River fell rapidly at Outram on Tuesday night, and that the water stopped flowing through the break in the embankment at Blair’s. This break is about 150 ft in width, and, as it is not a blow-out, will be comparatively easy to repair. Tenders will be called ’ for reinstatement of the embankment at once. Tho water is not subsiding so fast at Henley, and Lake Waipori still stands at a high level; and, as the water is higher than the lake embankment, no relief can yet be afforded. The break above the Otokla railway bridge is a bad one, being nearly 400 ft in length and right down to surface level. The river is flowing freely through this break, and will continue to do eo til! it falls to a lower level. When this occurs an attempt will be made to stop the flow, which in this locality is tidal, with a wing dam.

Thousands of articles of clothing have come in from all parts of the district. . Tbe self-denial displayed has been touching, the giving being not only from abundance, but of the widow’s mite nature. Wee tots of children have brought the contents of their money boxes. Two little girls, one aged eight, the other ten, handed over £6 10s, the result of a collection which they organised and carried out. Stndholrno House has given great aid. Professor Rawson and a large staff have been busily engaged in supplying food to the otherwise foodloss in isolated houses round about the district of which the Union street bridge is the centre. Each day three meals were thus provided for over 150 persons. Besides tho supplying of food, Stndholrno House has taken care during the daytime of sixty children, so as to enable their parents to bestow some time in cleaning and drying out their inundated houses.

Tho Technical School has supplied largo quantities of cooked food for distribution. A house-to-house visitation of tho devastated areas was undertaken so ns to ensure that nobody was left without provisions or clothing. Splendid work has been done by tho police. At the north end ns well as the couth end, they have not spared themselves day or night. Tho bureau workers say that from the superintendent downwards the police have clone, wonders.

The work has also been greatly facilitated by the hearty co-opera)ion of Mr Veitch and his staff at the Telephone Exchange.

The sufferers arc showing marvellous spirit in their misfortune. Grumbling is practically unknown, and those who arc in distress scorn to be mainly concerned about neighbors who arc in worse plight. Tho greatest needs at tho present are in regard to bedding, material for pillowslips. and mattresses of all kinds. A number of ladies started to-day at Ft. John Ambulance headquarters to make up mattresses. Now conics tho sum of the whole position, in the statement by the Rev. Mr King that the. supply of goods has been so abundant that the bureau has not had to spend a single penny of the £350 so far received, except 10s that was given by a man belonging to Green Island so to to save him coming into town for groceries for his family. FLOOD WATER RECEDING IN AND ABOUT DUNEDIN. LOW AREAS STILL SUBMERGED. No rain fell yesterday in or about Dunedin —tho few drops from the overhead vapor were but tho tears of skies that had not stopped weeping. But there was no evaporation on a largo scale, and tho subsidence of the floods was simply a drawing off by gravitation. This morning the weather was still grey and sullen—no wind or sunshine—and the drawing was slower than ever, but still going on, and its measure may be gathered from the fact that streets in South Dunedin that carried heavy bodies of water, such as Wesley street, Reid road, and Cnlton street, were showing tho metal in tho centre. Glasgow street and some of trie avenues off King Edward street were still full of water, and unimproved sections like so many ponds. It will take months of fine weather to dry out those depressions. THE RAILWAYS. MAIN SOUTH LINS CLEAR. BRANCHES OBSTRUCTED. NORTH SERVICE SLIGHTLY DELAYED. MORE TROUBLE AT MIHIWAKA. The railway line to the north of Dunedin was cleared on Tuesday, ns already reported, and tho service was resumed ; byt this morning signs of another slip appeared at tho southern end of tho Alihiwaka tunnel, some stuff looking as if it might como down, and a. train was scut out to investigate. Rending the report from the engineering staff the mail train timed to leave Dunedin at 11.15 .was held back till 12.38. As to the south line, at 10 o’clock last night, or thereabouts, word came to tho Dunedin office that the line to Invercargill was clear, and the ordinary main-lino service was resumed to-day. In addition, to suit the people who were held up, the department ran tho 8.30 from Dunedin to Invercargill, though it is not ordinarily her day, and the return train from Invercargill to Dunedin ran in the afternoon. The Lawrence, Outram, and Gatlins branches are still obstructed. Otago Central lino is clear. A goods train, with the special purpose of carrying fruit, was despatched from Ranlnrly at 12.50 last night, and by it the fruit for shipment was landed at Port Chalmers at 8 o’clock this morning, in time for loading. Tliis promptness is highly appreciated. The ordinary traffic is now going on on this line. ,

The breaks in the contour channel are numerous, but only three are of any magnitude. Arrangements will bo made with the farmers to got to work at once with their teams and repair tho breaks. The water is very deep on (ho plain, and a largo area is inundated. As soon as the gap at tho big break is temporarily slopped the roads will be cut and the water gravitated or prnnpcd from the plain. That is all there is to say about tho damage to the works of the River Trust. Tho County Council has suffered to an extent that is without parallel in its history. Innumerable water openings and culverts have been destroyed, and some bridges of fair dimension have also been seriously damaged. Tho roads everywhere are scoured, and slips are occurring on the sidelong roads in many localities. The roads are being attended to in turn, the main roads first; but all that is being done is to make a reasonably safe (ravelling way, permanent repairs being left in abeyance meanwhile. The Main Fouth road was overhauled Yesterday, and traffic got through to the south. The Mosgiol to Outram and Outram to Berwick roads were overhauled to-day, and there is a fairly safe road oven for motor traffic to Berwick. Tho Halfway Bush to North Taiori road has also been opened. Tho slips are being removed from the Kaikorai Valley road, and a start has been made with the road to Brighton.

RELIEF FUNDS. THE ‘ STAR ’ LIST

This morning ten more children were removed from their homes in South Dunedin. Their condition was deplorable, some having to be sent to the hospitaL

THE OBASHAGE ASPECT POSITION GREATLY IMPROVED. GOOD WORK BY DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED. With tho intention of finding out how matters were going with the draining and pumping of the vast volume of water, a ‘Star’ reporter made a short tour of inspection this morning. MAINTENANCE GANG WORK. On his way he met tho foreman of tho maintenance gang (Mr Kichan), who opened up some or the manholes, and explained the position from that point of view. This gang have been hard at work night and day since the trouble begat, and it is perfectly obvious, from what tho reporter saw, that nothing lias been left undone by them in order that the unfortunate position might bo relieved. In regard to a suggestion that silt had been allowed to accumulate in the main, -Mr Richan said that the sowers had never been cleaner, and that reports in tho Town Hall would show that more than tho customary cleaning out had been done during the past twelve months. The lifting of tho manholes on the Flat yesterday had helped considerably in getting tho water away. As a matter of fact, a most satisfactory improvement was noticeable on the St. Kilda side of tho King Edward road, at any rate until the lower levels towards Forbury were readied. Pursuing his investigations further, the reporter came to tho conclusion that, had the stormwater and the main sewer bean kept separate, relief would have come much earlier. Tins much was made evident by tho fact that as soon as they were separated the improvement .began. The maintenance gang, of course, were not responsible for the opening of the by-pass. AT THE PUMPING STATION, A visit to the pumping station followed, and hero the Drainage Board engineer (Mr Jacobson) expressed the opinion that steady improvement might bo looked for from now on. Tho opening of the manholes and closing of the by-pass had made the work of clearing tho flooded areas much lees difficult. Ail Musselburgh and most of St. Kilda had been practically cleared, The pumping engines have stood up to their work wonderfully well considering their limited capacity. They are only 120 horse-power engines, and all Sunday and Monday they worked up to a capacity of 160 brake horse-power. A severe test, but they stood it. . Mr Jacobsen added that he had had anxious limes before when heavy rain put his engines to the test, but tho fall hud always ceased before they were beaten. On Ibis occasion, however, the rain kept on, and the extraordinary fall of nearly nine inches was too much for them. There was not the plant to cope with it. However, things were on the mend, and the worry and strain gradually relaxing. As soon as the engines get hold of the lower levels the water now lying there will begin to disappear. NORTH FROM BALCLUTHA. FARMERS HEAVY LOSERS. MANY GRAIN STACKS RUINED. ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS. A gentleman who was at Wharctoa when the flood occurred reached Dunedin this morning, having made the journey on an Indian motor cycle. He related some of his experiences to a ‘Star’ reporter, and gave, an account of the state of the flooded country. The rain, he said, broke at midnight on Saturday, and many residents had a f rying experience in negotiating the mads, which are insufficiently metalled, and which soon became quagmires. He left Wharctoa at 9 a.in. on Sunday for Balclutha by way of Clinton. H rained, more nr less, all the morning. At about noon it descended in a heavy, crntinunns downpour, accompanied by a driving wind from the south-west. Ha reached Balolnt-ha shortly after 1 p.m. While negotiating the road from Wharctoa a motor car which passed him had a narrow escape of side-slipping over the bank, owing to the slippery state of tho thoroughfare. Many people who were anxious to get through to Dunedin were held up. at 'Balclutha. and (heir anxiety to rnmnmnicato with their friends was the source of much telephonic activity. Tho prospects of a flood wore freely discussed by the residents of Balclutha, and the level of tho water in the Molyncux, as shown on tho bridge cylinders, was watolled with much interest. Tho water wan level with the 12ft mark at noon, and a considerable amount of debris was coming down stream. Occasionally heavy logs floated down, ami tho watchers observed three live rabbits perched ou one log as it was .swept along. Advice bad come through from Cromwell to tho effect that the rain there was light, and as the river level was not affected much this had a reassuring effect on tho people at- Balclutha.. The business portion of tills township suffered very little damage beyond leaky roofs and the usual consemiences arising therefrom.

The farms on all the low levels are all more nr less affected. Debris has accumulated over a wide area, and fences have been knocked about considerably. Between Balclufha and Milton, and over the stretch of country to Green Island, stacks of grain recently threshed have suffered serious damn .go. A large quantity of grain is still in stock, and tin’s lias also been practically ruined. One largo held of turnips was thickly covered with loose straw, winch had been washed from tho stacks and grain fields. All the farmhouses in the ■low-lying areas arc still almost surrounded by water. Ft-ook that shared some of the earlier experiences of tho flood still presents a dejected appearance. The roads are covered with a thick layer of debris and silt. There have boon numerous slips and wash-outs, but the mads are passable for motor cycles and belt ides if proper caro is exercised. When tho rain censed (hose detained at Balclutha. were anxious to glean information regarding the condition of tho routes from the township to Dunedin. The mail car succeeded in g r tiing through to Balclutha from Dnnrrlin on Tuesday afternoon, and its arrival was a welcome incident. both from the point of view of the detained people and the reflidenis, as tho township had been isolated by road and 1 railway from Sunday night. Tho old bridge over the Pomahakaßiver below Clydevale, alongside of which a now structure is well on tho way to completion. suffered severely. Several piles woio dislodged by the force of tho flood waters, and tho bridge rendered 1 unsafe for traffic. The country has been inundated to such an extent that tliresliingmill operations, in the vicinity of Balclutha at least, will bo suspended for a week and possibly longer. Tho country under the flood waters presents a deplorable sight. There is a very heavy slip on the Main road this side of Henley, and motorists should drive cautiously when negotiating this. A man with a motor cycle ar.-d sidechair had a narrow escape when passing the slip this morning. JOTTINGS. When the Kaikorai Stream overflowed its banks, the water, on reaching the gaily at Burnside, invaded Alex-ns Kompt-hornc, Prosser, and Co.’s chemical 1 woiks. and flooded the, lower story and tho yards. A large quantity of manure was damaged, and some swept away by the torrent. The water also invaded the freezing works, but no damage was done. The railway tracks used for stock were damaged. 'The ballast was washed out in several places, and the rails and sleepers left suspended ! in the air. A washout occurred on the footpath in the Alain Fouth road about 50yds past the tram terminus. When tho flood waters banked across the street on Sunday afternoon workmen cut a channel across this footpath to allow the water to flow into the railway cutting. Tho big volume

quickly burrowed into tho clay foundation, and about 30ft of tho footpath was carried away to a depth of about 7lt. This Heft a gaping hole right to the edge of the channel, and several posts ai d the wires of the fence wore left suspended in tho air.

Eleven persons attended a meeting In the Trades Hall convened by Mr G. S. Thomson on Tuesday night to discuss what could bo dono to assist those working families who were unable to replace clothing arid bedding lost through the flood. Mr Morrow suggested that a working bee should be formed to help in the cleaning of the sift from the homes. After some further discussion it was decided, on tho motion of Mr Powell, that those present should form themselves, into the nucleus of a Workers’ Relief Committee. PICTURE PROPRIETOR’S OFFER. AN EXPLANATION. to ran miiTon. Sir, —No doubt an explanation is duo to the public why the Octagon, Grand, and Plaza Theatres wore not open last evening (Anzao Day). When the offer was made to His Worship tho Mayor to open these three theatres for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of tho distressed, Ilia Worship did not accept at tho time, but threw out tho suggestion that certain people and bodies should bo consulted. Owing to tho short time at my disposal and the opposition to tho proposal from certain unexpected quarters at tho last moment, I found myself unable to go any further. Tho offer of the throe theatres still, however, holds good, and I shall ho glad to co-operate with any central committee set up for tho purpose of relief.—l am, on behalf of Picture Theatres, Ltd., P. B.m.utuwaite. April 26. Tho managements of Empire, Queen’s, King Edward, and Everybody s Theatres have asked us to make dear the fact that these theatres wore not to blame for tho inconvenience caused to tho pulblio_ on Anzac night. No undertaking was given to open those theatres on that night, the staffs and managements having chosen _to make their donation to tho Hood relief funds in a different form.

£ s. d. Previously acknowledged 65 0 0 Sicvwright, James, and Nichol 10 10 0 J. J. iRonaldson 6 5 0 Grace 1>. Galloway 5 5 0 Garth Galloway 6 5 0 G. Lawrence 5 5 0 G. Stanley Smith 5 6 0 “H S." 5 0 0 Sanders and Morrison 5 0 0 “ S.M.” 5 0 0 “ C.S.S.” 2 2 0 “ VV.F.A.” 2 0 0 “ E.W.” ... 1 0 0 Merry-go-round Man (St. Glair) 0 10 0 M'Leod Bros., Ltd, Qo 0 0 John Mill and Co., Ltd. 25 0 c .Managements and Staffs of the Empire, Queen’s, Everybody’s, and King Edward Theatres 21 0 0 J. A. F others ill 5 0 0 “ l.t.” 2 0 0 Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge, M.U.I.O.O.F. 2 0 0 Jubilee Coal Co 10 10 0 Taxi-drivers at B.N.Z. 6 15 0 M. Cohen 1 0 0 “ F.C.” 0 10 0