HAWKES BAY FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10427, 27 April 1897, Page 5

HAWKES BAY FLOODS.

[bt telegraph.—own correspondents.] Taubanoa, Monday. A LARGt and influential meeting of business people was held at the request of His Worship the Mayor to devise means to assist the Napier flood sufferers. A committee was appointed consisting of the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Clark), Rev, C. Jordan, and Messrs. J. Maxwell, R. O. Stewart, and J. Wright, to whom was loft the active canvassing of the district, and all means likely to further the objects of the meeting. Already subscriptions are cornins in freely. Tadpo, Monday. Subscriptions are now being received here for the Hawke's Bay relief fund. The Rotorua-Taupo Road ia now in good condition, and the bridge over Tauogatere Creek completed and opened for traffic. Coach traffic has been resumed betweeu here and 'Maauu, and thence to the Hunterville Road, which has been repaired. This will probably be the main route south for some time. Only a pack track is onen here to Napier. The Mohaka River ia still high, and endeavours are being made for securing a canoe service there until a punt is built. Wellington, Monday. The following notification has been issued n respect to the goods traffio between Wellington and Napier :—" Parcele up to 561b weight are now being carried to and from Napier j goods will be taken to Clive per steamer, being removed by the Railway Department and forwarded on. All trains from the Palmerston side to Napier will run through to Farndon. A double ferry service hasnowbeen established across theßungitikei River, and the Depot hop* to throw a ternpoury bridge across the river and resume goods traffic in about five weeks' time. A gentleman who has just passed through the flooded district informs me that fears are entertained lest the number of putrescent bodies of iheep. cattle, and animals of every description should produce aome sort of epidemic. He recommended that for the sake of the public health greater activity •hould be exercised ia getting the decaying carcases under ground. The Racing Club hai given £25 to the flood fund, Napier, Monday. The following telegram was received by the Mayor from thi Mayor of Wellington: —" There are rumoure here that the damage has been exaggerated, and that tht majority of the perwni suffering low are in a position fairly able to bear the loss. It is further stated here in Ulwami to this mornings paper that many men drink at the bars of public-houiea while their wives and children are in dire want. Can you enable me publicly to contradict it? Is there any reason to believe that any lesa claimi 0»n fairly he made on public chanty than first anticipated! The Mayor has sent an emphatic denial. Only one case of a settler drinking ii known. It is quit* tiue that many who suffered heavy loss are able to bear it without being ruined, but io no instance have they asked for any assistance, nor would It be given if asked for. Five out of six sufferers are small farmers, market gardeners, etc., who have practically lost everythiug. The loss if anything was under-estimated. Every claim is being strictly investigated. Christohdrch, Monday. The Canterbury Jockey Club have donated 100 guineas to the Hawke's Bay Relief Fund, Dunedin, Monday. Carl Hertz'i matinee on Saturday realised £40 in aid of the Hawke'e Bay Flood Fund, which amount Mr, Hertz has personally supplemented with an additional £10,

Tlw concert now being arranged by Mr. P. R. Dix for the Napier Floods Relief Fund, which takes place at the City Hall next Friday, promises to be a great iuooes3. Almost all the leading musicians, the Auckland Banjo and Mandolin Club, and others 'have kindly tendered their services (or the occasion. We beg to acknowledge further donations towards the Hawke's Bay Flood Relief Fund, aiunder:-A.R., 2i6d; J. W. Taylor. £1; Phaeton, £1; a friend, 2i 6d; Joo. Abbott, £1010 a: Rer. J. Kinder, £1; R. Shepherd, 2.6 d; E. H.W., 5i ;H.S., 1«! Thomas Ball, £5; M, B»ll,£l; D. Ron, £3 3r. total, £23 6i 6d. _^_____