HEAVY STOCK LOSSES

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1936, Page 5

HEAVY STOCK LOSSES

Country Districts’ Experience GREY VALLEY SUFFERS. FARAIERS’ HEAVY I.OSERS. The amount -and value of stock lost bv farmers in the district will take some time to accurately estimate, but it is obvious from the reports received that the loss will exceed that ot the flood in November, 1913. This is the estimate of one well-known resid- , ent of Kaimata. who stated in eon- ■ versation with an “Argus” representn t’.ve last evening, that in his opinion the flood level in the Ngahere-Ahaura area was considerably in excess ol that in 1913. _ This farmer, who is probably tne heaviest individual loser, estimates his loss at between £2OO and £3OO, and so far as he had been able to ascertain vesterday, over 100 sheep and about 12 head of cattle had disappeaied. “The heav’est losses appear to have occurred between Stillwater . and Ahaura, where almost every .1 armor suffered in greater or smaller measures. It. is not vet possible for many of the fairmers to ascertain the extent of their losses, which, however, must run into some thousands of pounds. One farmer near Stillwater, placed 20 head of valuable cattle in a paddock only on Friday, and by Saturday morning", found that only’ one remained. As these represented his main interests, he is a very heavy loser. The losses at the junction of the Arnold and Grey Rivers will be severe, but it is not known to what extent settlers in the upper reaches suffered. A farmer in the Arnold district declared that his stock losses were heavier than at any time since he had resided there, a matter of over thirty years. Numerous carcases were seen floating down the roaring river throughout Saturday. The Grey River nt its junction with the Arnold, rose as quickly’ as in the 191. T flood, which occurred later iu | the morning. The peak volume of water was carried between 11.30 and 4 a.m.. on this occasion. Alost farmers had a very anxious time on Friday’ night, driving stock to the higher levels, whilst, on Saturday’ and again yesterday their tasks were made heavy by their having to scour the country i.n order to certain the extent of their losses. FIREBALL AT BELL HILL. The residents of Bell Hill were considerably alarmed when a fireball burst over their homes on Friday’ afternoon. An explosion of terrific intensity was followed by thick clouds of smoke, whilst flying sparks added to the general alarm. Conditions in the vicinity’ of Lake Brunner do not appear to have been of very’ abnormal proportions, and no stock losses have been report fid from the district. DEAD ANIMALS ALONG ROADSIDES. One motorist who returned to Greymouth yesterday, and who saw the large quantity of .sheep and lambs strewn along the roadside under, the fences it) the vicinity’ of Kamaka, said that he had never before witnessed anything of the like before. One of the animals was wedged in a tree in the gully’ at Spring Creek. There was a great depth of water on the road at Spring Creek, near Kamaka, and the road was imuassable for many hours bn Saturday. POWER HOUSE ENDANGERED. The Grey Electric Power Board’s power house nt Kaimata, although endangered, withstood the pressure of the flood waters and the the service was maintained without interruption.. The waters were running bank-high with the tail-race, and reached almost to the generators before they’ begam to fall. DAMAGE AT IKAM’ATUA. Yesterday’ afternoon heavy’ rain was continuing in the Grey’ Valley, a nd the B ; g Grey .River, at Tkamatua. and the Ahaura Rivers were reported to be I rising again. I A heavy thunder storm', accompanied by lightning and hail passed over the district shortly before noon. Snow began to fall on the higher levels and the temperature dropped rapidly. I A small traffic bridge on the Ika-

‘matua side of the L’tllc Grey River |on Alirfin’s Road, was washed out by ithe flood, and Rough River and other 'residents on the opposite side will be isolated until the .flood waters abate. 'l’his bridge is but a few chains away from the Little Grey River traffic bridge, and when the ordinary channel faileil to carry' all the flood waters, it burst its banks and covered a large area of river-bed flat. No homes were actually’ entered by water at Ikamatua or'Totara Flat, but in some cases at Tkamatua, the water was lapping around the verandahs. There was a loss of a certain amount of stock at Jkamat-ua. and possibly' some also at Totara Flat and Ahaura from the lowIving paddocks, but until a muster is taken, the loss cannot bo (estimated. Settlors had an anxious time on, Fridav evening shifting stock to higher levels. The Greymouth-Reefton main highway, is in fairly good order, desp.te the conditions experienced. There are heavy’ deposits of silt, on all roads. COAL CREEK AREA. Viewed early on Saturday morning from Cobden Hill, the Coal Creek. Kaiata and Omoto districts presented a s'ght not, to be witnessed for many years. The whole area was one vast expense of rapidly-moving water, which reached quite a distance up the sides of the houses. The heaviest loss reported in the district is that of the West Coast Rugby League, whose whole flock of about 30 sheep and over 20 lambs are reported as being lost. The Jockey Club were much more fortunate in that they were able to have all stock removed to a nigh level before the flood waters became inenac'ng. A quantity of lime and grass seed was lost by the. Chili, A'lessrs Norton Bros, Coal Creek, are also heavy losers, they’ having lost six head of cattle as far as can be ascertained. In addition, the flood waters were responsible for their loss of fodder. Other settlers in this district all suffered in varying degrees. BLACKBALL BRIDGE. The Blackball Bridge successfully withstood the force of the river, despite rumours to the contrary. Traffic was irn'poss'ble, however, until late in tho day, when the water dropped sufficiently to permit vehicles to get access to tho bridge. HARLEY CREEK BRIDGE DOWN. The only loss of a bridge on a main highway, is of Harley Creek Bridge, about four miles on the Kumara side of Jacksons. The bridge, a wooden structure, was completely carried away, and a ford will be prepared for

traffic as soon as possible. IN INANGAHUA. RF.F.FTON. October 10. Incessant heavy rain in Reel ton, aecompan'ed by wind, caused a big flood in the Tnangahua River. At 9 o’clock on Friday night, it was reported to be the greatest flood for some years. The rainfall for the 24 hours up to nine o’clock yesterday morning was 2.45 'nches, one inch "falling in the first six hours, lhe same amount in the next six hours, and the balance the following twelve hours. The flood in the Inangahua River carried away the pump at the battery’ at the head oi Broadway, which so far has not been found. It will doubtless have been carried downstream for a considerable distance, as the river was flowing at o verv rapid rate. Tn the Buller Gorge, a b'g slip came down about ten chains from the Tnangnhua Junction, and a further slip took place at Berlin’s. At 8 o’clock last night the Buller River was sweeping over the road at Hawke s Crag, so the Buller River must have been in high flood indeed. At Inangahua Junction, all lhe lowIving farm land was under water, and resembled a great lake of vater, extending over a very’ wide stretch of country. The tram from Greymouth on Friday’ was an hour and a-half late, and on" Saturday morning the GreymouthReefton train train did not. arrive until this afternoon, there being several slips on the line as well as a wash-out at Ngahere. The ReeftonGreymouth morning train could not get past Ahaura. At Rotokohu, Mr A. Boyers los' several of his herd of cows, and the bridge near h's property was also swept away.

Conditions in Buller Gorge

TEN SLIPS. MOTORISTS ADVISED TO EXERCISE CARE. Duo to wash-out and slips, considerable care will have to be exercised hy niolor'sfs traveling through the Buller Gorge between Inangahua Juncti,on and Westport. There are at least ten fair sfzed slips, td' 1 of wh'cn are likely to further subsidence with tho continuation of rain. The road Iffi' also been und'ornii'ned in places, and one of the mo«t da.ngo,mus of the.se is near Tironoa, where there is only «nr fieient room for a car to pass. It is on a straight stretch of road, and to remedy the position, the. construction of a bridge will] probably he r“qn red. At this spot., there i® a sheer drop into the Bulli’V River. Tho Biifler Rwcr came over the Gorge road in three places. It flooded the. highway’ below Tiroroa. and was at a height of four foot over tho wmA at Hawke’s Crag. th’s. fact being, in iVcntod bv Tools and small v'nos which -- were twined round the, top railings of the concrete on the river «ide of the road. The rivon also camo over the road at several places near Berlin's. Near Burley’s coal mine, there is an interesting relic of the flood in the form of a fbi.t-hottnmod boat 20 feet in ’eugth. which is now almost a mile from normal waters. O” several of the small ffs’ng Ppnrs on i.ho road heiweitn Berlin's and Inaneahnn Jnne'f'nn. the mad has dropped nwav completely on the rver aid'’, and it requires most careful driving to nepotiate this stretch. Tirnron was oxf'ons've’y flooded The boarders at Renwick’s bonrdinglious'O had to make a puiek ex t ns the water wished in. Woi-kcs's on lhe Bn ter Gorget, Railway’ removed the contents of camps to safety. Thorn are also several large slips near Tnangaliu.’t Jiinction. wlrch am .{vt’-Pinelv 'rough nt the bottom -inrequire to ho uogot’afed w'th care. (j‘ll tho Roofton S : fle of Hie Inanga-t-ua- Landing, nc/ir Rnlokohn. nr no’ souring lin.s talrnn pkie’e in the marl, and this has loft bho surface rnn-’l. with several sharp drops, winch also require carefil 1 negotiation. One oi tbe first motorists to come through

■■tin’s way from Westport yesterday re- ■ jiorfed that, in pituuis there was stil • water, and in some instances of a ■ depth' of 18 inches. He reported that . north of WesitporQ. quite a number of ' slips and wash-outs had occurred, and ! Karamea and other northern parts were I ’ isolated. : I There arc also a number of slips d between lhe Lyell and TnangaLu-i Junction. It was no.t possible to g’l ■ I through to Murehlison yesterday’. ’ 1 Tho Roefton'-’G I'eymout ii road was llin a satisfactory’ condition. Suifnce 1 scouring had occurred i.n some place-. - but there, were no slips of an extensive nature.

Stock Losses in Buller

HOUSE HIT BY LIGHTNING. ROAD DA Al AGE. (Our Own Correspondent 1 WESTPORT, October 11. Farmers in the Buller' district are summing up their losses by the flood, which have been evtensive. Alany head of stock were entangled in fences when trying to reach hich ground, and perished. There are many slips in the Buller Gorge, and north of Westport. The floods have largely subsided. (Per Press Association). WESTPORT, October 11. During the storm on Friday night. Mr V, r . Fleming, of Beaeh Road, Waimangaroa, had a startling experience, when his residence was struck by lightning and badly damaged. His wireless set was destroyed. Intermittent rain has fallen over the week-end, but most of the flood waters have disappeared. There are numerous minor slips on the Buller Road, and between Inangahua Junction and Lyell there is one which has to be. traversed on foot, cars meeting on either side of the slip. The road is expected to be cleared on Alonday afternoon. The rivers are still carrying a lot of water, but have -subsided, and little further trouble from flooding is expected. CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. The Waimakariri River i:< in high flood, and is now at the highest level on record, being six incites above 1926. when a huge area of country was inundated. Tho retaining hanks are still holding, and the flood level is dropping rapidly in the back country, indicating a drop in the level on the Plains, this afternoon.

Wellington’s Storm

TERRIFIC WIND. DAMAGE TO POWER LINES. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, October 10. A a result of the storm, Electricity Department linesmen were busy to-day attending to wires which were carried awav and also minor faults. A*big tree came down in Karori and carried away the high tension and tram lines. As a result a considerable part of Karori was in darkness until repairs were effected. Trouble was also experienced in Miramar with the high tension lines, due to salt spray, carried by the wind. At 1 a.m. "the road between the Evans Bay’ Power House and; Miramar cutting resembled a beach. A large launch filled with water at its moorings in the boat harbour, and sank. While still submerged she was brought to tlie south-western end of the boat harbour, where she was raised to the surface. The vessel is believed to be undamaged. A record taken by the Meteorological Office shows that during the night there were three guusts at least up to 70 miles an hour. After 2.30 a.m. to-day. the wind gradually moderated in force. WAIRARAPA GALES. CARTERTON, October 10. The fiercest wind storm experienced since the disastrous visitation of October. 1934, visited Carterton last night. Early in the evening- the wind was loudly roaring in the hills, but calm prevailed until ten o’clock, when strong gusts commenced. These increased till at eleven o’clock there was a raging gale. Between midnight an! one o'clock the gale was at its height accompanied by’ heavy’ rain. Minor damage is reported mainly to fences and old sheds which were blown over. The street lights in Carterton went out, a couple of lamps being broken and interfering with tho circuit. Charles Jensen, a dairy- farmer al Waihakere, lost three cows. A powerline broke and fell actoss .a fence with which the cows came in contaet. The telephone and electric services were not serious!.',’ disturbed To-day the wind dropped, and there was a promise of better weather.