TASMANIAN FLOODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 April 1929, Page 5

TASMANIAN FLOODS

MINISTER’S HURRIED RETURN.

(Special to ‘‘Star.’’)

AUCKLAND, April 19. “So far as I am able to judge, the damage done by the disastrous floods in Tasmania is in the neighbourhood of a million pounds,” said Sir Walter 1 H. Lee, Tasmanian Minister of Public Works and Agriculture, before leaving by the Ulimaroa to-day on his hurried return journey. The Minister is anxious to assist in arranging the reconstruction works to be carried out by the Public Works Department. “No such disaster has ever been known in Tasmania,” said Sir Walter. “The news by mail absolutely amazes me I find it hard to realise that the efectric jjower-house above Cataract Gorge at Launceston has been wrecked ; also that a solid stone bridge built in the early days by convicts across the South Esk River at Perth, has been literally washed away. I am informed that hardly any bridges remain in Northern Tasmania. Worst of all,” added the Minister, “is the news that thirty deaths have been caused by the flooding of the rivers.®The citizens of Launceston have had a particularly trying experience through the overflowing of the Tamar River, • and large numbers are homeless. The Government and citizens are doing all that is possible in giving relief.” Mr Frank E. Ward (formerly of Christchurch), his Director of Agriculture, remains to complete investigations of the Dominion agricultural and pastoral methods.