FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 November 1926, Page 5

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

DULLER. RIVER CAUSES DAMAGE. SETTLERS’ HEAVY LOSSES. - (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.-) NEL-SON, Nov. 5. i While Nelson and nearby districts escaped the heavy downpour, the back country has been seriously inundated. Murchison suffered most severely by the most disastrous flood in the history of the county. Old residents describe it us the highest flood on recorcT. Some settlers have suffered such heavy loss that they are almost ruined. The river plain suffered most, the. Buffer River cutting in across T. James’ farm, following its oid course. Mr. James’ milking shed, with the plate bolted to the concrete foundation, has entirely disappeared. A stable belonging to J. James, senr., has gone. Where the Buffer has cut in very close to the homestead, what were a few days ago beautiful grassy paddocks are now gravei and log-strewn wastes. Owing to telephonic communication being cut off only the damage results T r ■ ing close around'the township can be ascertained, but judging from what can be seen there the total loss to the district is most severe. The bridge over the Mangles River at Longford was washed away, as was one leading - to A. Fawcet’s farm a few miles further up the river, so that the settlers on the east bank are entirely cut off. Extensive damage was caused by river erosion, especially in the Matakitaki Valley. Roads are blocked in every direction by slips, so that farmers who are depending on getting cream to the factory are faced with heavy loss. Volunteer gangs are at work opening the roads, but it will be some time before they can be open for traffic. An urgent appeal for relief is being sent to the Government, for the loss is much too heavy to be borne by any small community. The Motueka River is running bank high and the approach to the bridge is broken through. ~ * TROTTING STABLES FLOODED. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 5.- -7 Mr. J. J. Kennerley’s private trotting training track at Belfast was inundated by the flood waters of the Waimakariri River in the early hours of this morning. His horses, -most or which are engaged at the Metropolitan Club’s carnival week meeting, were rescued with difficulty. Peter Bingen, the pacer, bolted with, a sulky into the flood, and it was feared that he would be lost, but, after swimming some distance, the horse turned and regained the shore, with the sulky stiff attached.