THE POVERTY BAY FLOODS.

North Otago Times, 26 July 1906, Page 4

THE POVERTY BAY FLOODS.

By Telegraph. Gisbornc, J.uly 25,

Further particulars obta ned" tonight regarding the sensationa, experience at Tc Rata Station are to the effect that the shepherd (Percy Jones), had stayed up towatc'h owing to -a fear of the river rising, He dually slept in the men's house, separated by a small stream, from the main house,-and after having tea: did not return there, the little stream having become a raging torrent. Other members of the household had gone to bed. Hearing a rumbling, noise Jones opened tlie door to look out, itiitl mmwiialcly water ami debris swept in, and lie could not close the door, The others were auickly out ol bed, the house hong gradually swept towards the river. Tiflm and Mcrritt got.together,, and after some ||ifllculty found' Mrs Meruit. The three, holding hands, reached the woolshcd, but nothing could be seen of Jones, and it was concluded he was drowned. .Next morning lie walked in in. a delirious 'condition, having been out all night imdei' a tree without hat- or boots, and his clothes soaking. It was a bitterly cold night-j wit)/ much snow. The men's h|ut had disappeared in the morning and nearly the whole of the main residence was swept away. Mrs Mcrritt, .whose leg was amputa; ted, is now out of danger, and the others are doing well. It is stated there was pot a clear- six Inches' on the hod es and limbs of the fouj people that was'not bruised ot scratched; Owing to the heavy weather preventing vessels working at Walpiro Bay the bodies of Caplaih and Mrs Nicholas, the victims of tlie Adtea wreck, are to .he interred there instead oi being fought to Gisbornc,.