THE STORM AND FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10421, 20 April 1897, Page 5

T HE STORM AND FLOODS.

fffRTHER PARTICULAR FBOM HAWKE'S BAY. HDGE LANDSLIPS AND OTHER DAMAGE. THE MISSING RESCUE PAftY. MESSAGE FROM THE ACTINGPREMIER. RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERIRS. SEVERAL FRESH CASES o) 1 DROWNING. ; [by telegraph.—press associate. J Napier, Moijlay, (HI Taupo road has suffered severe (jimage through the floods. The road, after having the vicinity of Petane, crosses a number of rivers and creeks, and al if those were in very high flood on Frday and Saturday. Every bridge between Napietand the half-way station at Tarawera, oer which the Taupo coaches run, has beei carried I my. Huge landslips have occirred at rations localities on tho road, eapffiioJly in the steep ranges near Tarawera, It will be some timo before throtgl communication with Taupo is restorel.and it it estimated that repairs to this nad alone fill cost close on £15,000. This morning a temporary mail errice with the Southern districts was instituted, trains tun to each side of the " wad-out" it U'sitangi. Up to this morning no traces of tie ten gigsing men who formed the orows if the rescue boats has been discovered, an( it is now certain that thoy were all drowifid, Reports are coming in from Wripawa, Je A me, and Poukawa of veryferious damage, the extent of which is fob yet known, as communication was only stored tbis morning. The Esk and Mohaka rivers overflowed, bringing down cattle and debris. The loss to settlers hero will be very sever). Tomoana, Farndon, Whakatuand Awatolo are are all under water, and tie damage in tlieso districts as far »b Hastings will prove enormous. Of the ten men lost in the rosjue boats ■ereral are well known in Napiei Sergeant Florance O'Donovan who was in charge of one of the boats, vas an experienced police officer. He w«s formerly tergoant of police aud clerk of tne Court at Waipawa. Constable Stephenson was, it is stated, a brother of Charles Stephenson, the wellknown New Zealand sculler, now in Ensland.

Fred. Cassin, one of the members of the crews, was a dork, residing in Wellesleyitreet, Napier. Arthur McCartney, licensee cf the Albion Hotel, was until recently in charge of the Caledonian Hotel, Hastings • street, Napier. John Prebble resided in Goldsmith Road, Napier. Frederick James Ansell, another of the missing rescuers, w»»8 a carpenter by trade, and resided in Thiiokoray-streot. John O'Brien was a labourer, and O'Reilly iras a settler. Later. There is little to add to the matter already telographed. Another settler, a dairy farmer named Riley and two assistants, are reported to be missing. They cannot be found, News from north is that the Taupo Road ia impassable. The coach left) Taupo on Thursday, but is stuck up at Tarawera, not being able to come forward or to go back The railway line is impracticable as far 18 Waipukurau, whence there is a coaoh communication with Napier. Boats are being employed at the two peat washouts in the road at Waitaugi. Telegraph communication is partially restored. There was great relief when it was learned that the Anglian had returned to Wellington. There must have been very dirty weather outside as the Mamari, which left Auckland on Thursday, is only just coming across the bay. Relief expeditions are supplying the looded out residents with clothing and food. The Mayor is calling a public meeting to raise funds for more permanent aid. Mr. R. D. McLean, M.H.R., has headed the list with £100, The necessities of the case, however, are felt to be beyond the resources of Hawke's Bay, and a telegram appealing for assistance is being sent to the mayors of the principal boroughs. Besides many settlers who will need aid to save from starvation or bankruptcy, there are thirty widows and children left by the men who were drowned in rescue work, (11 practically left unprovided for. Upon the Press Association telegram detailing the disaster reaching Wellington the Acting-Premier promptly forwarded to the Mayor the following sympathetic message: — " The Government desire to convey through you to the settlers of Hawke's Bay their deep regret at the great calamity that has overtaken the district by the loss of life and great damage to property Caused by the floods. They also wish that you should convey their sincere sympathy to the widows and orphans of the brave volunteers who have lost their lives in endeavouring to safe those of others. On behalf of the Government I wish to state that every assistance will be given by the officers of all Government Departments throughout the district in assisting settlers in their distress in every possiblo way, and »ny assistance that is required for tho immediate relief of destitute persons will lie provided. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, is leaving Wellington to day for Hawke's Bay, and will make arrangements to alleviate as far as possible the effects of tho great calamity that has befallen the district. — John 1 McKenzie, acting-Premier." The Mayor replied as follows " Permit ob on behalf of the many suffering citizens of Napier and settlers of Hawke's Bay to return you my most heartfelt thanks for the kindly sympathy expressed in your telegram just received, and to assure you that nothing will be wanting on my part to give (very publicity to the generous offer of the Government to assist us and relieve our pressing necessity in this dire calamity that MB overtaken us. I am much gratified to bear that the Hon. tho Minister for Public Works is now on his way to see what can 00 done for us." The Standard reporter brings word that the bodies of Sergeant O'Donovan and Arthur McCartney have been found near tbe mouth of the Waitaugi River. _ Coaches left here for Napier this mornlug, also for Kaikora, to connect with the S°nth train. The mails left for Wellington Ibis morning, at six. Several cases of drowning are reported, out nothing is definitely known. Another body (unidentified) has been found near the mouth of the Waitangi Hirer.

It is supposed that the two missing boats *ere carried against the Waitangi Bridge °y the force of the current, and upset. were is little hope of anyone being loft to toll the tale. A native named Kairatiana was washed Way for a mile, but succeeded in reaching 8 'tee, where he remained '21 hours, and •"rescued almost dead. .. Five hundred loaves have been sent to 'ive. Provisions are running short all ' 'hough the district. , The scow Rata is on the Petane beach. I 411 hands were landed safely. i ' It will be six weeks before railway j «affio is restored. At Waitangi Bridge the repairs will cost : ;»om £20,000 to £30,000. •/ Hastings, Monday. _ 4'' Meanee is under water and loss of life is reported there, but there are no pariiCQlare. Two Maoris were seen to be washed off ™'it horses while attempting to cross the «>:, Hver, and have not been seen since. Cunningham, one of the shepherds on tho thest«rhope station, has been drowned. A man named Broadbent is reported to @ jHfl been swept to saa on his horse. It is '•wed the loss of life will be considerable. ®|;'; would have been more only that Friday I '' waa *? r 'gh t and moonlight. . .Communication between Napier and Hastings i 8 stopped, and the question of <°od it serious. Tomoana is a sheet of ®,S§Hr, V ' m' m-

water, and there is four feet on the bridge. Nelson Brothers' freezing works are here. All the sheep on this side of the river are safe, but about 15,000 at Chesterhope station, belonging to same firm have been lost. The Owahu Bridge has been washed away. The natives left the pah, and their whares have been destroyed. Enormous damage has been done to the crops and fences, The residents of Fernliill had to leave their houses. The hotel is the only place Out of water.

The waters are subsiding gradually. The effect of the flood to the settlers and inhabitants generally will be disastrous in the coming winter.

Wellington, Monday. Both the Manawatu and Wairarapa lines have suffered from the effects of the flood, but in Hawke's Bay tho damage is more severe.

In the Manawatu Gorge there is a wash out, but the passengers exchanged trains. On the Wanganui-Now Plymouth line damage is also reported. Feilding, Saturday. The recent heavy rain culminated last evening in probably the heaviest flood ever experienced in Orua River, resulting in bridges on the Feilding-Ashurst Road and railway, and the roads' bridges at Aorangi suffering serious damago. The two latter have each lost two spans, besides the approach on tho Feildin? side of tho river, leaving gaps of about two chains at the former. Tho river left tho bridge high and dry, washing away about five chains of road on the Feilding side where the main stream now is. Reports of damage continue to come in from various localities. Opposite Birmingham, 19 miles north of Feilding, Mr. E. Bell's residence was washed away, as was also that of Mr. J. A. Bailey. The damage will amount to several thousand pounds, Paljie-ston North, Saturday. The weather is fine, with a fresh southerly wind. Very severe weather was experienced here yesterday. Tho rivers in the district were in a high state of flood. No damage immediately round Palinerston is roported. The traffic on the Wangunui line is suspended to-day, a washout near No. 1 tunnel in the gorge occurring this morning. An effort is being made by the Railway Department to tranship passengers from the train to another. STORM AT WELLINGTON. EFFECT ON THE SHIPPING. ACCIDENTS AT SEA, THE ANGLIAN SHELTERING AT WELLINGTON. SUPPOSED WRECK. FOUR BODIES FOUND ON A BEACH. Wellington, Monday, The storm which burst on Wellington on Thursday night has done but little damage locally, but had a serious effect on tho shipping. Almost tho entire mosquito fleet wns compelled to remain in port, and those at sea ran for shelter,

The Talune had a 34 hours' run from Lyttelton, and on the way ono of the football team (Ernest Merritt) died suddenly from failure of the heart's action. All the steamers which managed to arrive in port report most severe woather. The Anglian, bound for Sydney via tho East Coast, and the Hosketh for the West Coast, have been sheltering at the Heads since Thursday. The weather is moderating, but is nono too promising. While nb sea O'Connor, tho chief steward of the Penguin, had his collarbone broken by being throwh on deck. Charles Holland, second cook of (ho Mahinapua, hid his leg broken on tho voyage from New Plymouth to-day. Inspector Pender has received word from Maryborough that four bodies have been found on the beaoh at Whataraugi, Pallisor Bay. It is feared that some vessel has been wrecked, but no further particulars have come to hand. A search is being made. SUBSCRIPTION LISTS OPENED. The Town Clerk (Mr. P. A. Philips) intimated yesterday that subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the Hoods would bo gladly received at tho City Council Offices, and that he had arranged for lists to be opened at the various banks. Later on in the evening the following telegrams addressod to tho Mayor of Auckland wore received from the Mayor of Napier :— "Your immediate assistance is most earnestly solicited to enable us in some measure to cope with the effects of the most disastrous flood which has ever visited Hawke's Bay. Hundreds of families have been rendered homeless by the destruction of thoir houses, some of which were bodily swept away and tho loss of property and cattle and all kinds of stock, besides miles of fencing, and the ruin of their crops have left them practically destitute, and the country desolate. Tho loss of life, too, I regret to say, has been large. Twelve persons, have it is now known, been drowned, and as most of them have left widows and children entirely without support, funds aro urgently required to meet their present necessities. Ten of these men nobly lost their lives in endeavouring to rescue their fellow-settlers by means of boats, which have, there is no doubt, been swept out to sea by the current. The loss altogether cannot be estimated at less than from £80,1X10 to £100,000. Under these most distressing circumstances I feel compelled to appeal to tho woll - known generosity of my fellow-colonists, and to ask them to give us their kindly co-operation in whatever steps may be taken to alleviate the misery and destitution which would have fallen upon us. G. 11, Swank, Mayor of Napier."

The second telegram is as follows !— " Might I suggest that subscription lists be opened anil committees organised to canvass for subscriptions in the various districts of your province. G. H. Swann, Napier."