BLENHEIM’S LOSSES.

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1923, Page 5

BLENHEIM’S LOSSES.

Scenes of Devastation. (Per Press Association). BLENHEIM, May 10. The flood waters have now receded from Blenheim and frem the greater portion of the inundated plains. The town is getting back to normal and settlers in the farm areas are beginning to reckon* up their losses. The Mayor’s relief fund is growing st-eadily. Many substantial subscriptions are coming in. Lower Wairau is a scene of desolation and distress. At its height the Wairau river gouged out a great gap in its bank in the vicinity of Whitle’s Bend. The water, tearing across the country in a stream half a mile wide, inundated practically the whole of lower Wairau. The flood was one of the worst in the history of the district. Farms and homesteads which have hitherto been immuno from the floods were deeply invaded. There has been a tremendous loss of stock. Many carcases of sheep are hung up in the barbed wire fences. It is still impossible to give any estimate of what the loss will mean to the farms of some of the smaller settlers, which have been to all intents and purposes swept bare. Stacks have been overturned or ruined, and fences are down in all directions. Spring Creek has more or less been cleared of water since yesterday. Only the low-lying areas are affected now. The area immediately around the Ferry Hotel presents perhaps the most desolate and dreary scene in Marlborough Fences on both sides of the road have been washed out, and all the remaining fences are sagging under the weight of festooned weeds. At the back of the railway line Mrs F. Redwood’s property has suffered severely. Her house has been entirely surrounded by water since Monday until this morning.

The river bank on the Tuamarina side of Ferry Bridge has been broken through, in several places over a distance of about a quarter of a mile, and the outlook in the event of a further rise is bad. Where the river flooded across the paddocks at one place, practically the whole of the soil and grass has been removed, leaving a broad track like an old river bed.

The railway line in the vicinity of Spring Creek is very badly damaged, the ballasting having been washed out here and there over a considerable distance, leaving rails and sleepers hanging in the air. Culverts on the line are also badly damaged.

Road communication between Blenheim and Picton was effected this morning and many cars made the journey to-day. At Tuamarina the flood invaded the hotel to a depth of a foot, and most of the other buildings in the locality suffered severely. The railway line here has been damaged pretty badly, but has been temporarily repaired by means of sleepers and old railway iron.