FLOOD DAMAGE

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1936, Page 6

FLOOD DAMAGE

CLEARING UP WORK Question of Relief HEAVY LOSS TO FARMERS. Yesterday staffs o c business houses and hotels and private property owners spent a busy day clearing up the silf and debris left when the Grey Biver overflowed its banks on Saturday. PUBLIC SERVICES. ■ Interviewed last, night, Mr A. J. I'airinaid, Borough Engineer, stated (hat the damage to the streets was much less than had been anticipated. Ue said that he considered £.200 wou’d be the approximate cos! of res or'ng the damaged' roads and clear:ng up the debris left by the floods. Mr Fairmaid stated also that no damage was done to the gas or water mains or sewerage system. The report published yesterday to the effect that the Grey Electric Power Board’s Hydro plant at Kaimata was endangered has since proved to be inaccurate. We are informed that the tail race was backed up , few feel corresponding to the flood ed river which is naturally to be exec ed. but a f no stage was water any-

■.. here near the generating machinery. The water in the tail race would have iiad to be approximately sixteen feet h gher than it was to make your report orreet. The height of water over the in spillway reached a maximum of ;ive feet at the height of the flood. h.ch is some ten inches greater than ay previous flood since the plant

.ent into commission. At no stage was .he plant or works in any danger and functioned normally throughout. The only damage suffered by the Board was the washing out of a long span tower on the Grey River, near .lie Blackball Bridge, due to flood ■cour. This necessitates the northern end of our area being fed over a light ransihission line on the south side of (he river until such time as the river goes down when new poles can be snigged in and normal conditions restored. In the meantime the quality of the lighting in that area will probably not be the best, but the river crossing will be re-established as soon -is conditions in the river permit the work being done. The .Shell Goy’s tanks at the Herbert Street Depot, were found, on examination yesterday, to have sustained no damage.

DISTRICT ROADS AND BRIDGES. The Public Works Department advised last evening that owing io slips and washouts, the Otira road will be closed t'or at least ten days. In the Inangahua district, the gl’-P on the 'Black’s Point road near the Whirlpool has been cleared sufficiently to permit of traffic going over the road. The men working there have been transferred to Murray Creek, where the road is blocked by slips. The huge slip that came down on the Buller Gorge, near Baker’s, was sufficiently cleared by Sunday, and the passengers by the cars were able to be ;ransferred to the cars on either side. The road was expected to be cleared . esterday, to allow traffic to be resumed. Several slips have come down on the road between Mtjrchison and Lyell, and it was not expected these will be cleared until to-day. It was intended to send the mail ears front Nelson on Sa,urday, via the Maruia-Reefton Road, but a couple of slips between Murchison and Springs Junction block cd the roads.

At Lewis Pass, two temporary bridges have, been washed away, and on the Maruia. Road, between the hostel and Springs Junction,- several chains of the road have been badly damaged. The bridge at Williscroft’s, Maruia, has been swept away, and motor lorries on both sides are held up. This is a somewhat dangerous river crossing, and is only negotiable when the river s low, so that- its destruction will be a very great inconvenience to travellers.

STOCK LOSSES. Reports from the country districts indicate that, the severity of the stock losses was even greater than had been anticipated, and inspections of farms •n'dieated widespread' destruction. Hardly a farm between Goal Creek and Ikamatua and in the Inangahua Valley e-caped the loss of stock. In addition to farmers already mentioned, Messrs Horan Bros., at Coal Creek, lost 25 head of valuable cattle, nd several nearby farmers lost many poultry, which were swept away by the fast-running flood' waters. The loss of stock in the Inangahua Valley is very severe, and many of the farmers, especially those grazing ‘heir stock on the river flats, have had ’heir herds of cows badly depleted. Many farms have been covered with a heavy layer of silt and shingle, and 'evcral have huge logs deposited by the high rivers. Mr Jackson's farm at Inangahua Junction, had just been top-dressed, and the grass was responding well. The flood waters, however, have left lit covered with inches of silt. Mr Inwood’s farm, in the neighbourhood, is in a very bad condition, being left- with timber, river boulders and «ilt strewn all over, and heavy expense will be necessary to clev tho ac cumulation. Mr Trim’s land' also nearby is in little better state, the flood damage there being very severe also. KUMAKA DISTRICT. Kumara in common with other West Coast districts, suffered severely from floods and wash-outs. Reports coming in daily from the Taramakau Valley and Greenstone Creek, report both those streams carried record floods; and the loss of stock has been very considerable. Sheep and lambs on the islands in these rivers were all swept away by the flood. Taramakau Settlement farmers report an abnormal flood and all farmers suffered losses wh'le the Christchurch Road farmers from Taipo, Wainihinihi, Rangiriri, Turiwhate and right down to Payne Gully and the Dillmans Flat all suffered very heavy losses. It is impossible to estimate the loss, hut several farmer? consider 1000 head of cattle, sheep and lambs, a very reasonable estimate of the loss.

Friday’s storm’ did a good deal of

damage to chimneys, fences, wireless masts and also telephones and telegraphs. Kumara is fortunately high above the flood level, and only small damage was done to the roadways here and there. WESTLAND COUNTY. The flood damage in the Westland County, so far as reported, is confined chiefly to the Hokitika and Arahura Rivers. At Koiterangi, some protection put in recently above Camelback, to assist in (.ontrolling the flood waters, withstood the first flood last week, but succumbed to the latest inundation—the whole being w’ped out. At the upper abutment to the Koiterangi bridge, further inroads were made by the river erosion, and several chains of protection are necessary urgently. In the Arahura district, the Valley again suffered from flooding, while 'he river increased the at points where protection had been attempted. In one instance a large tree breached a stone wall, and flooded the road which was impassable to motor vehicles. The recent repairs to Malfroy’s bridge are said to have been affected, a span or two of the structure being canted down stream, but it is thought the piles are intact. The roads generally have been badly scoured, throughout the district, and repairs are being carried out at once. SHEEP AND CATTLE CHILLED. Many cattle are at the calving stage, and it is stated that losses may yet be more severe, due to the animals’ liability to chills, and other illnesses at this period. Sheep, have in most eases, completed the season’s lambing, but they also are liable to contract chills and sickness which may increase farmers’ losses.

Health Precautions

IN FLOODED AREAS. Last evening the Health Inspector (Mi- T. E- Schon) stated that whilst the possibility of an outbreak of disease in the striekqp area was remote. it was nevertheless necessary for residents to take every precaution to prcvefrit. such an occurrence. Mr Schou referred to the fact that a large amount of sewerage wa.t thrown back by the flood waters, and that Io allow ' this, to remain lying about would constitute a grave menace to public health. Hci also stated that in a few days tho water, which had in vaded homes.. wou'ld raise an objectionable and unheaf.'thj- smell. Mr Schon advices the <nimed:ate use of powderdd limo in liberal quantities around low-lying houses and outbuildings and that aH houses which were invaded by water should be thoroughly efeansefl with any suitable disinfectant. He points out-, however, | that unleps the disnifectant was applied to all parts of th o interiors of dwellings and outbußdings, its use would be negligible. No delay should be made in putting into ef feet the work.

Flood Relief

REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERNMENT. Yesterday morning the Secretary ot thb West Coast Provincial Executive of the Farmers*-Union, Mr J. Mulcae, telegraphed the Member for the District, Mr J. stating that as a result of the flood, a number of Grey Valley settlers had suffered serious loss, and suggesting that their cases were a subject for immediate consideration and investigation as to the granting of assistance in some form. A’ prompt reply was received to the effect that Mr O’Brien intends to-day upon the return of the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, from Christchurch to Wellington, to bring the matter at once before him for attention. The form in which assistance. if deemed necessary, should be given will be a matter for subsequent determination. In some cases fences have not only been flattened on farms, but even the wires have disappeared. I

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House “NEXT TIME WE LOVE.” “Next Time We Love,” which is now at the Opera House,, is the portrayal ;of a woman’s emotional life. Margaret; Sulla van, star of the Universal production, contributes a performance wliliqh. adds further proof that she belongs in the front rank of fllmdom. The .settings capture .the eve while the romantic drama is capturing the imagination. Scenes in Russia. Siberia, China, Italy, and Switearland offer a variety for the stirring action. Especially interesting sequences occur in newspaper offices, theatres;, ocean liners and night clubs. “Next Tme W e , Love.” a picture worth seeing. “AWAKENING OF JIM BURKE.” On the screen for 1 twenty years—a star for ai 1 l but two of them—-Jack Holt, the proud possessor of flint sensational record, is unapproached in the annals of motion pictures. ’rhe beginning of his third decad" in Hollywood finds the .<rtahvn.it actor starring in a new Columbia drama. “Awakening of Jim Burke,” which opens Wednesday at the Opera House, with a supporting east that includes Florence Rice, Kathleen Burke, and Jimmy But'er. He startup in movies in 1915 as a stunt man, and broke, two ribs. Shortly after, he became a hero and almost immediately a .star. He is still a star—and an important one—after eighteen years. The Columbia attraction depicts Holt as a brawny pugnacious construction boss on an engineering project and nerves crash ing mountains, perilous feat», and romantic drama to' the patrons.

“OUR GANG MEMBERS.” A new competition has been started for “Our Gang.” Members ate to make as many words as possible from “Our Gang Members,” and i>a ctheir entries' in next Saturday morning at the maffnee. Three prizes will be awarded to- members having the greatest number of words. Ncatn<'«s will count in the event of any competitors having an equal number of words,

Regent Theatre

“IN PERSON.” Ginger Rogers, titian-haired partner of Fred Astaire in “Top Hat.” achieves solo stardom in a vehicle for her distinctive talents, “In Person.” Her opportunity comes as a climax l<> an extraordinarily rapid rise from modest featured dramatic, and done-

ing rules with Wi.'l.am Powell in “.Star of Midu ght.” with Francis Lederer in “Romance in Manhattan.’’ and with Astaire in stnsatiut ul film usicavs. In all, she displayed skilj! and a penchant for comedy. “In Person” provides Ginger with a rich light eom-cdy-drama rede, and enables her to sing three original popular songs and to execute several’ striking' dance routines. She portrays a temperamental screen celebrity who falls in love with a gentleman,, annoying him so that ho determines h> take the egotism out. of her. forcing her to go to extraordinary lengths to traphim into marriage. The three popubtr melodies, by Oscar Levant and Dorothy Fields, arts “Got a New Lease on L : fe,” “Don’t Mention Love to Me” and “Out of Sight. Out of Mind.’' (George Brent, who won popularity ns leading man for important f’mirnim' stars such as Kay Franc’s. Bette Davis and Gre;ta Garbo, has the featured male lead. He is at his best in “In Person. ” light- comedy be’:n<_ r his forte. Alan Mowbray, who played Miriam Hopkins’ lea,] in “Becky Sharp” has :i. prominent role, as have th' emineintlly capable veteran--. Grant M'tchell. Samuel Hinds and l."uis Masion. Miss Rogers' wardrobe has n’nefoen outfits-created by the famous designer, Bernard Newman. Another outstanding feature is the ;.holography by Edd'e Cronjager. The film cmploys the new Eastman Polar screen, which controls direct and reflected light in a .way hithcrto.fore iuipossib’e. affording the) scenes a depth wlreh frequently give a third dimens’on illusion.