PLIGHT OF SETTLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 10

PLIGHT OF SETTLERS.

ANXIETY DURING FLOOD. HOMESTEADS ENDANGERED. ROAD CAMP INUNDATED. RAPID RISE OF CREEKS. [IS!" TELEGRAPH. —OWN CO lIIIESPON DENT. ] GJSBOKNE, Monday. A message from Opatea reports tho heaviest flood any resident can remember. Tho Maoris say it is 30 years since anything approaching it in violence has occurred. Tho rainfall at Tral'fords for flic night of Friday last was six inches, this falling in about six hours. Slips have occurred at several points along the road, but tho full extent of tho damage cannot bo known until the telegraph wires arc up again. All road communication with Matawai became impossible, and an hour later the telephone had ceased to function. Mr. Trafford's homestead is built on tho only piece of fairly flat land in the vicinity on tho banks of tho river and just bolow a spot where a creek joins it. This creek came down in full flood and hour by hour its-depth and velocity increased. First one building and then another was threatened as obstructions occurred in too swollen stream and diverted its course. An anxious band, including three ladies, stayed to save first this and then that until a lato hour at night, when the rain slackened in violence. The main buildings wero saved. Several narrow escapes occurred. Shortly after 4 p.m. a huge slide occurred just above tho homestead, the noise being startling. At, the height of the flood shortly after 8 p.m. two distinct earth tremors were felt, causing additional alarm. The damage has not yet been estimated. At Mr. Allan Chilcott s property, sonic 21- miles lower down toward Opotiki, further dangerous floods occurred. Mr. Chilcott, liko his neighbour, has built oil tho river banks just below a branch I creek. This creek overflowed, too, and I stirring scenes occurred. At this point the Auckland firm, New Zealand Roads, Ltd., had just constructed a camp at the head of its Public Works contract job and the finishing touches were being added when, almost without warning, the floods burst. In a few seconds all hands wero hard at it, assisted by Mr. Chilcott, but it was not until 9 p.m. that the last load was dumped in safety. Matawai residents are very anxious as to what has occurred lower down, for it, is considered that grave damage has been | done toward and below Oponae, and indeed throughout the Waioeka \ alley. Considerable portions of tho road have been swept away, and even foot traffic is at present impossible much beyond the Motu River. , „ Messrs. A. Winter Matthews and S. S. Dean, who had been staying in Gisborno last week, had an unenviable experience when they attempted the overland trip via Motu 'and Rotorua to Auckland. The party left Gisborno by Friday afternoon s I train, their motor-cars being railed through in order to avoid negotiating the Otoko 1 Hill. Soon after leaving Matawai tho train ran into a slip on the lino and pulled up about two miles on the north side of I Matawai. It was ono o'clock in the mornI ing before the slip was cleared and the train got through to Motuhora. There was no means of getting to Motu. Accommodation was arranged for tho passengers at Motuhora, but it, was so wet and miserable that tho majority preferred to remain for tho rest of the night in tho train. The motoring party realised that difficulties would confront them on the Motu-Opotiki Road, and armed themselves with shovels ill order to clear away minor slips. Soon after leaving Motu the car came to a big slip and the party had to turn back. They returned yesterday afternoon, but did not call at Gisborne, and presumably went through to Napier on route to Auckland. THE WHAKATANE DISTRICT. RAPID FALL OF WATER. STOCK LOSSES NOT HEAVY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] » WHAKATANE. .Monday. The flood water in tho Whakatane district subsided with great rapidity, and only a comparatively small area in lowlying parts is still under water. Both the Tarawera and Rangitaiki stood the stress of the storm water admirably, and fortunately neither of those rivers broko thoir banks. The motor service betwqen Whakatane and Opotiki was resumed yesterday, the road to Taneatua being now quite free of water. Losses of stock were comparatively light. One settler Jost about 70 sheep and another about 12. Beyond this no further losses have been reported. SIIEEP AND CATTLE LOST. ENGULFED IN THE SLIPS. PACKHORSES CARRYING MAILS. [BIT TELEGRAPH. — I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] KAETIHI. Monday. The floods have not affected Raetihi, but tho back country suffered considerably. Hundreds of sheep and cattle have been engulfed in slips, miles of fences are down, and bridges have gone. Telephones are-also down, and some districts are isolated. Mails from Raetihi are being carried by pack horses to the country offices. A bridge on the Ohura Road, near Scarrow's, was washed away, also one near tho power house at Ohakune. Traffic between Raetihi and Ohakuno has been diverted by way of the, Rochfort station. Several horsemen had narrow escapes when attempting to cross flooded rivers. OHAKUNE UOROUGH. THE DAMAGE ASSESSED. NARROW ESCAPE OF A BUS. [HY IELECtti.VX'II. — ritKSS ASSOCIATION. ] OHAKUNE. Monday. The flood damage in Ohakuno Borough includes two bridges demolished, two serious)v damaged, the road washed away for two chains and a large subsidence at the approach to the bridge on the main road. The damage is estimated at £2OOO. A heavy bus laden with passengers had a miraculous escape from being engulfed in a road subsidence. 'lhu bus had barely passed tho spot when a hole, opened. A youth on a bicycle fell in, but was extricated without much difficulty. Rain continues, keeping tho rivers high. FORTUNATE WHANGAREI. LITTLE DAMAGE DONE. [IIY TELEGRAPH.—-OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WHANGAREI. Monday. The Whangarei district escaped lightly in the storms at tho week-end. From Ruatangata it is reported that a large shed owned by Mr. R. R. Hodgo and used for milking purposes and general storage was totally wrecked. Shattered portions of tho structure arid internal fittings and contents were in some instances carried 100 yds. away from I heir original location by the force of the \vii.d.