THE FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13393, 23 January 1907, Page 8

THE FLOODS.

THE WAIKATO DISTRICT.

WATER FALLING EAST

MICRO lilt STILL IX FLOOD

MISHAP TO ROTO Hi; A TRAIN. j:y out hi'KCtAi. l!KrOßTi:i{. Thk journey to Auckland yesterday from Taumaruinii occupied about 13j hours, including a delay of an hour and a-half at Frank toil and over three and a-half hours on the river journey from Hunt Iv to l'okeno. The' train from l'okeno to Auckland did a very fast, Jim, accomplishing the distance ill ail hour a.nd a-half.

A mishap occurred to the Rotorua train while crossing the Pinko bridge, near Mortinsville, ve.stordav. The approaches to the bridge had been damaged by the Hood water, while the bridge was also slightly strained. Temporary lepairs had been effected, and several trains had passed safelv over the bridge. The Rotorua. train ha<l a fair number of passengers. As the engine approached the bridge the train wa.s slowed down. Next to the- engine was a cattle truck, which jumped the rails just on entering the bridge. The driver and fireman had kept a sharp look-out. and as the train was going slow, it was instantly pulled up. The putting of the truck lxick oil the rails occupied the officials about an hour and a-half. No damage was done to the truck, and little to the permanent way.

The flood waters all along the route t-il Mercer are falling fast, and steadily at. Mercer. At Taupiri there is still a considerable amount, of water lying on the low land immediately to the rear of the station, while the sawmill yard is in |K>rtions still under water. A little beyond Huntly, on tho eastern side, ot tin railway, where the land is low, there is a- considerable amount of water, but the water about here has fallen several feet, and is still falling fairly fast. The farmers in places have begun ploughing their land again, m readiness for further crops, the water at Huntly dropped 18in between eight o clock on Monday morning and two o'clock yesterday afternoon. It is continuing to fall at about the same rate. l'ho drop in the river since Saturday morning has been over 2tt. I lie water is now well low the ounk on the western township side. This means that all surrounding country is clear, except that which is below the river banks.

From Huutly U> Pokeno the line i* still impassable, being mostly covered with water, and the boats still run between iiiese two points. 1 lie Maori settlement between Huutly and K-anginri is still submerged', but the water has fallen several teet. and some of the whales and the meeting-house and ball, on an eminence, are now clear. On the. opposite side of the liver the country is mainly swamp, or low country. there is"still a great expanse of water here. At tin- ilojiginri township, however, the water has fallen a good deal, and is now clear of the hotel, stores (which were half covered). and nine-tenths of the houses. LheHaxniill opposite the township had several feet of water in i' yesterday. the Hora Hora Maori settlement, below Rangiriri, is still mostly covered. At Churchill, where so much damage had been caused', the water hu?s fallen about 3ft. but. the buildings and store near the river have water in amd around them. There is a lot of low swamp land on the western side of the liver, and theie is still an immense sheet of water to be seen in this direction.

A few utiles lower down the river, near the Orton settlement, the river appeared to be banked up yesterday afternoon, and there was very little current. there is .s-t.ill a large Injdy of water around the Orton settlement. While some of the hallsubmerged houses of a few days ago are now clear, the tlaxmill is still half tilled. As showing how rapidly the country has dried up since the rain, a large bush tire was seen yesterday over the lulls at the rear of the Orton settlement. Huge volumes of black smoke ascended, ami could be seen from a considerable distance. "the river bank just below the settlement is still badly flooded. while a- great amount of debris has collected on this portion of the land. Little fall in the water is perceptible about, here. The low Hat country about four miles above Mercer still holds a great sheet of water, and the railway line is covered for some miles, except where there are a few rises. The depth of the water varies considerably, but in several places i; reaches half-way up the telegraph poles. The extent of the damage to the railway cannot be ascertained yet. but it is expected to be considerable. Iu fact, the railway line between Mercer and just- beyond Rangiriri will probably lie found in a very bad condition when the flood leccdes. Some miles of fencing is also just under water in this region. The railway bridge a. couple of miles beyond Mercer is now clear of water, but the traffic bridge close by is not free yet. Tho line between the bridge ami Mercer is covered in several places, while there Ls a foot of water in the Mere r tunnel. The water rose in Mercer until late on Sunday evening, but since then the residents have. b(-"ii much relieved to find that it is at lost beginning to subside. From Monday to yesterday morning a fall of over s Jin was recorded, and it is falling steadily still. The railway station floor had about a, foot of water in it last, evening. The line bet-ween the Manngata-whiri bridge (where the passengers embark and disembark for the Waikato), just Wow Pokeno. and the Auckland station, is- in good -order, and trains run well and as usual.

MAORI HOUSES THROWN INTO RIVKR. The residents along the Waikato River below Mercer have had an exciting experience with the flood waters, the Maoris especially. At the Ivohunga Maori settlement, about 20 miles below Mercer, tinMaoris had a decidedly uncomfortable time last Tuesday. Where the natives are camped at Kohitnga, there is a fail- sized Maori settlement, and the while- and houses are erected on iaiiU high land at the base of the hill. The water id-h rapidly, and the action of the rainfall on the hill caused an enormous ipiynt.ilv of ••art to come away in a slip ju>; above the settlement. As the earth jell, if collided with some of the houses. One house was struck with great force, and torn from its foundations. It w;us thrown against a second dwelling, and the earth gathering force, as it came down, swept both buildings into the river near the mouth of a creek. I fie water had not at thai time reached the level of the houses, but it was < lose up. and fortunately the majority ot the Maoris wore outside when the slip oc--1 red. One of the houses, however, which Wi«! swept into the river, contained no less than seven inmates, while the second house had a single occupant. Luckily the buildings were not overturned bv the slips, but were swept straight into the river. A tturnlmr of the natives immediately made for their canoes and hoahs, and pushed down stream. The unfortunate occupants had been able to get out ot the houses, and while some were swimming others clung to the floating houses. The boats soon rescued these, and a number of the Maoris made fast the houses, and after some difficulty secured them to the shore. Whih* (hi* "e ;|N on a Maori child was seen floating down stream and was quickly rescued.

THF I'IAKO DISTRICT. The country around Tnhuna, beyond Morrinsville, on the Thames line, and a-round the I'iako River, presented a dismal appea.rance oil Tuesday last. A gentleman from Canterbury who is interested in fla.v cutting in the district, arrived in Hamilton oil Sunday evening, and in the course of conversation stated that the Hourahoura stream rose 20ft above its ordinary level, while the water was 15ft deep above the traffic bridge last Wednesday morning. The Maoris had informed him that the water had not boon so high for the last 50 or

60 years. J» y Saturday morning, however, it had receded considerably, and there way only about a foot, of water above the Houriihoura traffic bridge. One llaxmill had been completely submerged, and two others had water around them up to the roofs. A considerable quantity of fibre, was lost, and tons upon tons damaged. A house belonging to one of the-mills and occupied by two of the employees was washed down the stream, but the mens efiects were -aved. All the loads in the district had been serious! damaged, and numbers of culverts washed away. Ouly horse traffic is still possible on nine-tenths of the roads. The I'iako swamp, between Paeroa, and Taliuna, was completely flooded. A considerable quantity of fibre has also been washed away from these parts, but the greatestdamage was caused through lie fibre in bale being covered with water while 'ying in the sheds. The swamp had been almost dry before the rains, and it is considered now that the water will do the standing Max in the swamp a. deal of good. INTERFERENCE WITH DAIRYING. The position of the butter factories beyond Huntly is a somewhat serious one. so far as their export trad" is concerned. The major port-ion of the factories have been working all through the flood, and in consequence their storage capacity has been overtaxed. If cold storage is not available the loss in some instances will be considerable.

STATE OF THE RAILWAY

IS LOCK MAY CONTINUE A NOT HE It WKKK. The railway otlicials a! Auckland have received repotts that waters in the flooded area between l'okeno and Huntly, which have ljcett rising continuously ever since Monday of last week, reached their maximum height- on Monday evening, and began to recede. (hi a measurement being taken at the station at Mercer yesterday morning it was found that the water had gone down sin since the previous evening, and appeared to be still falling. A similar fall occurred at l'okeno during the night, and last evening it- was reported that a further fall of '1 in had taken place, making Tin in 24 hours. Now that the ebb has set in, it is anticipated that the water will get away until it- subsides altogether. The Railway Department have made arrangements to repair the line as the water recedes, hut it- is not- expected that they will be able to get trains through for fufiy another week yet, as the line between l'okeno and Huntly is still covered in many places to the extent of from 12ft- to 15tt. In the meantime trains will be run as usual to l'okeno. connecting with steamers for Huntly, from where passengers are taken on to Cambridge and Te Awamutu. Those who wish to go on to Rotorua or Tutimaruliui are obliged to stop in Hamilton for the night, going on next day. The usual express services from Rotorua, Thames. Cambridge. and Taumaninui are now being run as far as Huntly, where the passengers catch the steamer to l'okeno and come on to Auckland, making the through trip in one day. The fact hat the Depart incut- are oliiv able to give the through trip one way may perhaps appear strange to some, but this is accounted for by the fact that the trip down the river from Untitle to Pok<-no onlv takes about two hours, whereas the journey up the river from Pokeno to Html Intakes upwards of six hours. Tic- uner. from l'okeno yesteidav took about 180 passengers to Huntly. while those from Huntly to Pokeno conveyed about 200.

TH AM KS LINK I'LKAI!. The water in the liver about Hamilton has now fallen over 20!; from the highestpoint attained during the Hoods. The township was, however, through I lie blocks on the Auckland anil Thame-. railway lines, completely isolated for some days, and supplies could not be procured for the best part of a week. 1 lie Settlers all along Ihe Thames line had been getting anxious about their food supplies, and in Hamilton and other places stocks were becoming very low. From .Monday, however, the supplies came to hand, the ordinary train 1 time-table having been resumed on the Thames line.

When the water subsided tin' railway bridge till the Thames tine. below Morriii*ville. was found to be unsafe, and it had to be considerably strengthened before a train cull pass over it. Two • ■ i"i<ll -= washouts occurred between It' Aloha and Paeroa. and us soon a-- the water subsided ballast tram* were run. and a large gang of men effected temporary repairs, sufficient- in allow tratiie to be resumed. The speed ot' the train, however, has been limited in places to four miles an limit* on the 1 names line, until Mich time as the gangs can lie spared to ike the j>ermuuent repairs.

coal SUPPLY I"OK THK waikato. The running of the \\ aika.to trains to Huntly from Monday will also relieve- the anxietv tor the coal supply on the line at Frankton and Ix-yond. If the block between Taupiri and Huntly had continued till Wednesday the coal supply on the Watkato line would have been exhausted, and the locomotives would have berii compelled to stop running, although the line would have been available. the tlood waters hemmed in a number of trucks and locomotives at various points beyond Huntly. With the line beyond Huntly. on the Waikato side, all clear for traffic, and good* ■fouling from the lliarnes. it :> anticipated 'hat there will lie a shortage of 1 oiling stock* in tie Waikato beyond Huntly. but the railway authorities intend doing their Utmost to meet all demands.

RAILWAY ( MMC XI (' A 1 < ).\. fur Th'.LK'iHAt'lt. —OWN" I (H(UKSI'(IM)KNT. ] Tb Aroma, Tuesday. Railway communication has now lieen vi•stored to the Thames and Auckland, but travelling is being much delayed, owing to th<* weak spots, which have only been temporarily repaired.

IN" TH V. COUNTRY DISTRICTS

PROM Ot'K OWN" CORRESPONDENTS. ] ROTOR A. The roads throughout the district have been very much damaged by the recent heavv tains, and some time must elapse before they are all in good order and condition again. I OWAI. The Hoods have I men the (il'eatest ever known in our set lenient. Without warning an immense body of water rushed furiouslv over our flats, carrying logs and everything with it, and levelling fences in its onward rush. Messrs. Collington and I'.roek brothers' fences sutt'civd most. Providentially there was no loss of life. .MV. and Mrs. (!. Marshall, howevr. had a very narrow escape, but thanks to a steady horsand a good .swimmer they got over safelv. although the buggy was washed oil" flic load, llreat damage was done to the earthworks on several of our road*-. ONFWHFRO. I he floods proved cry destructive in this district. On the. hilly ground landslips have caused a great deal of damage to fences, etc.. and earth has been swept away. Fully 150 acres of flax in cultivation on the swamp has been destroyed. RAY OF PLKNTY. Considerable damage has been done in this neighbourhood (Maketti) by the phenomenal rainfall. Farmers were just in the midst of harvest operations, and crops were being cut. Much of it is now badly spoiled. The potato blight has left its mark where the flood has not played havoc. On the hillsides and gullies landslips are everywhere I i be secri. Fences have been destroyed, large washouts have occurred in several parts of the main roads, and culverts and bridges been carried away. A tremendous brtdy of Wilt-el' came down the Kailuiie River. At the Kaitune bridge the river flowed over the main road for several chains, and was some slt deep, horsemen having had in several instances narrow escapes. The. river has broken out to sea at the i'tiinu.

Some, of the river water is flowing to Maketu, and threatens to destroy the present i small harbour of this old settlement. The outbreak caused by the Kaitune River at Turnii was. in the opinion of many, the salvation of Make til from a. disastrous Hood. A large portion of the. sandhills at Tuinu is washed away, causing much inconvenience and loss to Mr. -I. Hudson. flaxmiller, who besides having the foundation of his store scoured rait, has had much baled fibre wetted, and two boat.* washed out 'o sea. j The Northern Company's landing shed at. Canaan had some 3ft of water, spoiling several tons of manure. The. County Council have some 60 men employed effecting repairs to culverts and bridges between here and Tauranga. About a dozen men are engaged clearing slips on the county portion of the road to Rotorua. The Kaikokopn Road is impassable. a culvert and embankment being washed away. The road to l'apamoa special settlement has fared bully through landslips. It. will cost, about £200 to etfect repairs, the settlers ill the meantime being put to much inconvenience. Messrs. .J. Murk and F. IS keel have had to put men oil to repair the road to the'r homesteads. The loss one way and another is very great, many farmers having bet this year's work. Several dams used for j water supply purposes have been destroyed. : Whilst some heavy landslips were taking j place the -sound resembled thunder, and the I vibration was felt on No. 3 road, a mile | away. Mr. D. J. McKwan's dam ■ has been washed away. Much credit) is due to Mr. Charles Willniott, the driver j of the Rotorua mail coach, in managing to ; get through on Monday, 14th ins!.. There, i has been no Auckland mail since then up to I the present. The mail coach, however, came ! through again from Rotorua on Friday. 'I he j estimated damage to the district through loss i of crops and floods is computed at £20.000. !

W.-vIUKU. Most, of (lie high land lias now quite recovered from the effects of the Hood. Portions of the Otalia and Aka-aka still teinaiti in a very bid state, all the land from what is known as the Elbow and opposite Kohanga being under water, and the flood still rising. There are numerous large landslips from Kohanga to the Waikato Heads. As showing the force of the flood at Kohanga, 1 might mention that a large building erected for a flour mill many years ago. and nov.i- used as a. stable (containing a lot of harness), was swept away, and carried with it part of a native's dwelling. The building swept- oven the tops of willow t roes, and finally reached the Waikato Heads, where most of the harness was recoveted. The oldest residents say that, the Hoods far away surpass anything of the kind they ever experienced. Many of the farmers have had a vers trying time in teinoving their stock, having frequently to wade -through 4ft of water, and swim their pigs out. The stock is now on the high Led. The Aka-aka cte.mieiy is closed, the n-oF to it being impassable, the Aka-aka. and also a number of the Ot.uia milk suppliers. having to bring their milk to the Wa.itiku creamery. The loss to litany of the farmers will be very heavy, as it- wilt be some considerable, 'time before they will he able In return to their lain-..- with their sto< k.

OTA MA K A OK AO. The natives living at ( hatnakaok.io and in the neighbourhood experienced a lively time ill saving their own lives, as well as | in le.-cuing stock, si lien tile storm was at its fiercest la.st week. After the heavy rain of Sunday and Monday the liver and streams in the disttict wcie flooded, tiie 1 water tunning bank to bank, and the I natives immediately set about mustering | sheep, and bringing in horses, cattle, and pigs. This necessitated wading thtoitgh wale!', shoulder high, and swimming in places, over a distance of two miles. A return jollities' also had to be made, and strb.sequelit! every boat and canoe in the place was requisitioned, ami all families taken to a place of safety. Ihe loss sustained bv the Maoris consists ot 100 head of tattle, 200 sheep, 20 draught hor.-es. and 50 pigs. The whole district was inundated, and the water, which was seveial fi.et high. washed into many of the whim's. | Some of the natives showed great, coinage

and endurance under the trying citciuustaiices. In one ca.se a native pulling tip the l iver in a canoe took tlnee hours or nioie.to go thteetinatieis of a mile. Another incident occurred in which two natives who were saving cattle nearly lost their own lives. They were in a boat, and made last j t,, a bull, wliiih immediately commenced pinngiiiir in the water, and overturned the ci all ... Foituuatelv the two occupants could swim. A considerable area of laud was down in potatoes. but- the crops have been milled bv the delude. UiOet ot the potatoes being quite unsound.