THE HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10420, 19 April 1897, Page 4

THE HAWKE'S BAY FLOODS.

The floods in the Hawke's Bay district in the vicinity of Napier, some particulars of which we publish this morning, are the most disastrous that have ever been experienced in that part of the colony. Full details of the extent of the inundations have not yet come to hand, but from what is already known it is feared that immense damage hag been done, while unfortunately serious loss ot lite has also pepurred. Two boats engaged, in rescue work are missing, and .is surmised that they have been carried out to *„ or have capsized in the whirling flood waters, and that their crews, comprising ten men, have been drowned It is stated that the Aharon plains are underwater, as far *as can be seen from the i ? o^- Tl ' ese celebrated plains, 80,000 acres in extent, form a district of extraordinary fertility. In, deed, the whole of the country inundated is among the finest land of the s™* d » Heavily stocked with sheep. The loss to the smaller settlers lete ' Theirstock and everyawav SV 9 l* been "wept ,13 ™ the M 8">B waters, and the S £ Q W tr y- converted into a vast Wee. Many of them, it is feared, have £"l lrret "evabl y ruined. The catase -n ap)e ? rs to have been due to the EST 8 fl T "taekuri and Ngaruoro when in g.flooUreak!ng through their em-