CAST UP BY SEA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11956, 29 May 1933, Page 5

CAST UP BY SEA

FLOTSAM AND J.ETSAM

UNUSUAL SCENE ON W r AIK ANAR BEACH

COVERED IN PLACES SIX. AND EIGHT FEET DEEP

POSTS, TREE TRUNKS, BRIDGE

TIMBER, ETC.

SUGGESTED RESERVATION FOR

BELIEF PURPOSES

Tho effect, of the recent, heavy rainfall can perhaps be imagined, by the ofdfnary town resident or the farmer, Hut imagination may be either underestimated'- or distorted. Speeacular evidence is after all more convincing than (imagination, and one lias only 7 to see Waikanao beach , to realise the toll of the rushing waters in the three rivers running into Poverty Bay-. Tho beach is in places six and ought feet deep with driftwood, dead stock, pumpkins, marrows, ote. This was ■principally'brought down by the Waipaoa, though large quantities also came down from the Waimata, and a smaller amount from tire Tar ah cm. Out in tho Bay the wind veered from south-east to south-west, at times, with tiio result that the- driftwood all cast up on the Wnikanae- beach between the diversion cut and Roebuck road. Tree trunks up to 241 n. and 30in. ■ in. circumference, timber from jetties, piers, fences, decking, etc. are thrown- up indiscriminately. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of pumpkins and- marrows were amongst the- wreckage, while unmistakeable evidence- is given also of dead sheep and cattle, these being quite a- quantity of the former washed up. Almost in tho middle is seen tho huge buoy, .which a- lew days ago denoted the presence of the Ilawea rock near the centre of the bay, and almost in a direct lino with the. river mouth-

Not for many years has there been such a scene of activity as was witnessed yesterday. Many hundreds of people were working on the beach in all manner of costumes, and 1 lorries, cars and handcarts were busy from dawn till nightfall. Quite a number of limousines were also seen, the owners intent on scooping their quota of cheap firewood.

Judging by the number of lorries in evidence, there is an assumption that some of theiir loads are to ho stacked and later sold to the miblic. TMs fact was the subject of some commentyesterday, and it was suggested thatowing to the prevailing distress, it would bo a graceful action on the parr, of the Harbor Board (if it were to adopt an unusual course and place a han on the indiscriminate removal of the drftwood, control in this direction being handed over to tbo relief authorities -who could set a- number of men on the bleach and have the wood delivered to tiio relief yards,,iwhero it could be distributed as required. Judging by the amount on the beach yesterday there is more than enough firewood thcro to see the relief committee through its necessities for the winter. It i.a quite postfibjo that the matter will come up for discussion at the meeting of the Harbor Board today.