THE ISOLATED SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18680, 9 April 1924, Page 10

THE ISOLATED SETTLERS.

LAUNCH REACHES FARMS. LITTLE DAMAGE SUFFERED. CLEARING SLIPS ON LINE HEAVY TASK FOR WORKERS. [nv TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL REPORTER.] HELENSVILLE, Tuesday. The first communication which the settlers in the Tauhoa district have had for nearly a week with the outside world was successfully established by launch from Helensville to-day. The plight of the settlers there and in other districts is not as bad as was at first thought, and boyond the fact that they have been cut off from outside centres, they have scarcely suffered at all. Launch services to the various districts north of Helensville have been commenced, while telephone communication was to-day restored with all offices as far north as Paparoa. The weather conditions were somewhat improved to-day, so that prospects are considerably brighter all round. The relief launch for Tauhoa left this morning with a supply of provisions— principally flour, bread and sugar The trip was a four-hour one, and Newcombe s landins', which is on too narrow Tauhoa Creek, was reached on the full tide. The farmers had been advised the previous day that the launch would be arriving about mid-day, and were ready to meet it. They stated that they had been absolutely isolated since last Wednesday, owing to the. collapse of the bridges to the north and to the south, and by the complete blockages on the railway line. Apart from the fact that in some cases households were running short of provisions, the isolation was the only trouble.

Stock Losses Negligible. The settlers were anxious to know, of outside happenings, but they themselv.es knew nothing of the effects of the floods in other districts. The country in this and neighbouring districts is hilly to undulating, and all the homesteads are on high ground. Consequently no houses were threatened by flood waters, and there is practically no lying water. Stock losses are practically negligible at Tauhoa, and it is thought that this condition applies to many of the other localities. The principal damage, as already reported, seems to bo to the railway, tho bridges, and the roads. The "bread and flour were thankfully received by the farmers, who inquired anxiously for their letters and newspapers, which had been previously taken by launch to Port Albert. The cream which had been hoarded for several days was quickly loaded on to the launch and five passengers for Helensville also embarked. Outward letters were carried back by the launch and orders for provisions "were large and numerous, leading one to suppose that the people arc not anxious to take further risks of running short of food.

Launch Leaves Amid Cheers. The launch left the landing farewelled by the hearty cheers of the men, whose anxieties over their isolation have been largely removed by the establishment of the •waterway service. The tide was rapidly falling,, but the launcr just, managed to clear the tidal creek without stranding. The return trip was made against a strong tide in about six hours, the craft being very heavily laden with four hundred gallons of cream, several boxes of butter, and a consignment of eggs besides several passengers. To-morrow and throughout the rest of the week the launch will run to several of the districts north of Helensville taking provisions and mails and returning with cream. The service is being maintained by the Kaipara Co-operative Dairy Company. The other launch which yesterday took mails to Port Albert returned to Helensville this evening. The Port Albert district has also suffered isolation, but beyond damage to fences, private property seems to have come off lightly. Position on the Railway. Clearance work on the Main North Auckland Railway line was suspended to.day and the relief workers returned by trarn to Auckland for a supply of dry clothes and fresh equipment. It is th« intention of the engineers in charge of the works to obtain huts, more suitable gear, and a quantity of provisions. The gang will then go up to the obstruction at the Ta Bekeroa tunnel and start clearing work without haying to return to Helensville each evening. It is thought that in this way the work will be done more quickly and efficiently while the respite of a day or so will be of great benefit to the men who have been working every day in water and slush up to their waists. The gang is not expected to leave Auckland before to-morrow afternoon. Reports indicate that the task of consolidating the line will be a particularly heavy one in view of the huge slips which have occurred in many places. It is stated that near Hoteo half a hillside has come over the line. There are other rumours of fresh slips on the track.

WAIWERA AND PUHOI.

SUBSIDENCE OF FLOODS.

Advices received from Waiwera and Puhoi yesterday showed that the rivers in both districts were steadily subsiding, and had reached about the level to which they fell at the end of last week, in the lull between the two main downpours of rain. No further damage of importance was reported beyond the . magnifying of some of the hillside slips, where ground had been loosened at the back of the original downfalls, and an occasional additional slip had occurred. As regards the business part of Puhoi, the supplementary damage suffered by stocks on Monday was trifling, for the reason that all the perishable goods had originally been stacked at low levels in the stores, and had undergone all the deterioration that was possible in Thursday's inundation. The farmers of TVainui and Upper Waiwera have been relieved of their chief immediate anxiety, the' difficulty of getting their, cream away to the Kaipara dairy factory. At the week-end it was found possible to open, a way through to the Kaipara by temporary repair of the most important bridges, and cutting channels through the worst slips on the connecting road, so that the cream carts are again able to make their regular rounds. At Pukapuka, a small township about five miles from Puhoi, floods raged throughout Monday, afternoon-, and by three o'clock the water was higher than has been known there before. The damage in the township and surrounding district was extensive, the road filling being completely washed away in two places, while the wharf also suffered heavy damage. To make matters worse the water dam of the Glyn butter factory carried away, and added the waver stored to the flooded area. Three cream waggons with their teams were marooned at the butter factory all night. Yesterday gangs of voluntary labourers made the roads passable again. This was essential, as the Glyn butter factory has to keep work going continuously to. cope with the supply of cream which has come in from various parts of the district owing to the block on the railway.

TAUMAItUKUTS DAMAGE.

THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. [by. ielegbaph.— ASSOCIATION.] TATJMARUNUI. Tuesday. The damage in • the residential area of Tanmarunui through the flooding of the Wanganui River is estimated at £5000. The damage to roads in the borough is estimated at £200. The stone-crusher , has been damaged also, and the dam at> i of the ' 7 * rater supply, baa been