TOLL OF THE FLOODS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2643, 11 May 1923, Page 5

TOLL OF THE FLOODS.

ASSESSING THE I)JK STATE WILL ASSIST VICTIMS. , 1 (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Last Night The Prime Minister stated to-day that Cabinet had decided to assist settlers who had stiiffered serious loss during the recent floods, and -who may require a certain amount of cash in order to carry on their farms. Details have not yet heen worked out, but the intention Is to follow the procedure adopted in the case of the hush fires some years ago at Racrihi and Ohakune, where monetary advances were made to settlers at a comparatively low rate of interest. In the present case of sufferers through flood damage the rate of interest will he 5 per cent. Applications for assistance will be received by the Superintendent of the State Advances Department. BODY OF VICTIM RECOVERED. HIGHEST FLOOD IN MEMORY. BLENHEIM, Last Night.

The body of the late Mr W. E. Robinson, who was drowned in the flood near Grovetown on Monday night, was recovered at about 3 o'clock this afternoon in about five feet of water. Mr Robinson had thrown o:"f his coat and shoes and had evidently struck out from the capsized dray in the direction of Mr W. Jones's house, as the body was found about 75 yards on that side of the dray. So far, the body of Jack Gledhill, the lad who accompanied Mr Robinson, has not been located.

Spring- Creek has more or less been cleared of water since yesterday, only the low-lying areas being 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 tho weight of the festooned weeds. At tho back of the railway line, Mrs F. Redmond's property has suffered severely. Her house has been entirely surrounded by the water from Monday until this morning. The stop-bank on the Tuamarina side of the 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 flowed across the paddocks at one place practically the whole top soil and grass have been removed, leaving a broad track like an eld 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 the rails and sleepers hanging in the air. 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. Flood waters have now receded from Blenheim, and from the greater part of the inundated plains. The town is getting back to normal arid settlers in the farm areas are beginning to reckon their losses. The Mayor's relief fund is growing steadily and many substantial subscriptions are coming in. The lower Wairau is a scene of desolation and distress. When at its height the river gouged out a great gap in the stop-bank in the vicinity of Whittle's Bend, the water tearing across the country in a stream half a mile wide. It inundated practically the whole of the lower Wairau and is the worst flood in the history of the district, farms and homesteads which hitherto have been immune from floods being deeply invaded. There has been a tremendous loss of stock, which is borne mute witness to by the carcases of sheep hung up in the barbed wire fences. It is still impossible to give any estimate of what the loss will mean. The farms of some of the smaller settlers have been to all intents and purposes swept bare. Stacks have been overturned or ruined and fences ar2 down In all directions.

A southerly "buster" treated the Havelock suburban area to 005 points of rain, and the result was the heaviest flood since October 24, 1900. .Old residents declare it was the highest flood in memory. Considerable damage occurred to the fences in the low-lying flats adjoining th? river, but there was not much loss of stock. There have been many slips along the hillsides this morning and it was still impossible to get anywhere within reasonable distance of Dillon's Point, the whole area being inundated and presenting a sorry sight. The water here is receding very slowly and it is believed it will be several dr,ys before the area is clear. There is plenty of evidence that Islington has suffered severely, most of the houses being invaded to a depth of two feet, while in some cases the water was even deeper. In the Grovetown district, the waters have receded a good deal, but a large' area is still inundated. It was in this area that the body of Mr Robinson was found.

At Lever Wairau Mr Saunders and family had a most trying experience in their home, which is near the bank of the "Wairau river. The water rose to an immense height and they had to take refuge or: the roof, being compelled finally to cut the roof open with an ; xe. The house is a fairly old one and the great pressure of water made it literally rock, and but for' the fact that a big macrocarpa hedge broke the current to a certain extent, Mr Saunder 3 declares Ate place would have been carried out to sea. The family was rescued yesterday, after being without food for some time. Mrs Saunders and her four months' old baby felt the strain of the experience greatly.

WAIAU BRIDGE BROKEN. RAILWAY REPAIRS COMMENCED. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The ViTairau bridge is now completely broken in two and communication with Parnassus is stopped. The loss of the bridge will be very serious to motorists, as the river is one of the most dangerous and difficult in Canterbury, and lies on the direct route to Cheviot. Before the bridge was opened, many cars used to be held up at the ford, where a horse and cart were used to ferry passengers across. Even when the weather clears the Railway Department will be faced with serious difficulties when it comes to the work of repairing breaks on the Waipara-Parnassus branch. The line is forty-five miles in length and it goes over the Hurunui and Wairau rivers, as well as over smaller streams. Reports indicate that the ro.ils will have to relaid ovjr various stretches. Scouring by flood: water still goes on and the foundations of various bridges have been undermined. There is a slip near Scargill, but the worst fall of earth has taken place between Ethelton and Tormore, where several hundred tons of earth have been carried away. The rails underneath this huge pile of debris arc very likely to have been either bent or broken. Repairs will therefore be a matter of weeks. Repair work has started on the Midland line at the Otarama slip, and so that the work may be carried or; with all despatch, arrangements have been made to send a relief train from Greymouth through Arthur's Pass tunnel. Operations can then be put in hand at both ends of the series of slips. "Railway communication with Arthur's Pass may be restored in a fortnight's time." stated Mr A. J. McCredie, District Railway Engineer. "A good deal depends upon the weather. If the rain stops it may be possible to do the work somewhat earlier, while if it continues communication may not be restored for a longer period." "What do you think of the position beyond the big break at Otarama'' I '' he was : '. 1. "Worse than I expected," Mr McCredie replied. "At No. 8 tunnel it is just possible for a man to squeeze through the opening in the obstruction which blocks the mouth." ''All road communication with Ashburton is entirely cut off," stated M:: Hawkes, secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, this morning. "The Selwyn ford, on the main south road, is still impassable and the alternative road by way of the Ellesmere bridge cannot be used, owing to the approaches to the bridge being washed away. The only means of communication remaining is by railway, which has not b,een affected.' 0