POVERTY BAY FLOODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1938, Page 14

POVERTY BAY FLOODS

MANY ROADS CLOSED [FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, April 27. The road frmd Gisborne to Ruatoria was opened to-day for experienced drivers, but other roads throughout the district remain closed on the inland road to the south. It is hoped to effect a clearance as far as Te Reinga to-morrow night, but it is not known when it will be possible to reach Wairoa. On the Morere route it is still expected that the road will be closed till the end of the week. It is reported that serious damage has been done between Wairoa and Napier, and the opening of this section of road is still uncertain. In the meantime, Gisborne is dependent on the northern outlet for all road transport, but the position is being met to some extent by the running of special planes to Hastings. All first-class mail has been carried by air. Telegraphic and telephonic communications outside the district are dependent upon one uncertain line to Auckland, via Opotiki, but emergency radio sets are playing an important part in relieving congestion on the landline.

The most serious problem is Gisborne itself is the absence of a water supply. The emergency reservoir was emptied yesterday, but an auxiliary supply is being introduced into the mains with a strict warning that it is for flushing purposes only, and not for human consumption. The Cook County Council at a meeting to-day, received a letter from Hon. R. Semple (Minister of Public Works) stating that its request for assistance following the February floods was receiving consideration. It . was decided to repeat the request, and point out that the damage on the present occasion was as serious as in February. HAWKE’S BAY r REPORT

1 NAPIER, April 28. ' Railway trains resumed the ordin- ! ary timetable on the southward run, the bridge at Waitangi being passed fit for trains at slow speed. All roads to the north are still blocked. It is not likely the Taupo road will be open till the week-end or later, but the Rissington detour will be necessary. It is anticipated that the plight of Esk Valley is far worse than reported. Many settlers assert that they will be compelled to walk off the farms, many of which are four and five feet under silt, but it is impossibe, even now, to reach Eskdale half-way up the valley. Mr. Webb proposes making an inspection to-day. With one exception, a detour of ten miles, the main south road is open. GOVT. INVESTIGATIONS WELLINGTON, April 27. The Government has taken steps to • ascertain the extent of the flood damage in the Hawke’s Bay district. The Prime Minister (Mr. M. J. Savage) said this evening tliat the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Semple), who was unable to leave Wellington himself, had sent the Chief Inspecting Engineer of the Public Works Department to Hawke’s Bay to ascertain the extent of the damage and report to the Government as soon as possible. The Minister for Mines (Mr. P. C. Webb) was also leaving by aeroplane to-morrow morning for the district. SOUTHLAND" DROUGHT INVERCARGILL, April 27. The long period of dry weather in Southland has caused a serious shortage of water and in many country districts where the supply is drawn from rain water tanks, householders have been carting their water. The position has become more acute in the last week and there is urgent need of rain to relieve the situation. Except for a shower early on Monday morning and a fairly good rainfall the previous Wednesday, there has been no rain at Winton for several weeks, and business people have had to obtain water by means of a fire brigade pump from the borough

well, but the pump has now broken down and those who have no water draw their supplies from wells. Even that source, however, is not reliable, as some of the wells have become dry for the first time in the history of the district. A man who has lived on the bank of the Oreti river for the last 40 years says that he has never seen the river as low as it is now. The Winton creek has also practically dried up. r , Invercargill itself is not yet faced with any serious shortage, although there is a reduction in the level of the water in city supplies, and pumping costs are higher. It is not proposed to impose any restrictions in the meantime.