FENCING PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23036, 13 May 1938, Page 10

FENCING PROBLEM

NEWLY-SOWN ABEAS REQUEST FOR MATERIALS IMPORTANCE OF EARLY GROWTH HOLDING SILT BEFORE SUMMER [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS, Thursday: The authority of the Treasury .Department will , be sought by the Hawke's Bay flood relief committee for the immediate purchase of fencing materials. These materials will be used to construct fences round .the newlysown areas which were buried deep in silt in the Anzac Day floods. . This decision was reached at a meeting of the committee to-day, over which the instructor to the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. J. W. Palmer, presided. The object of the fences is to stop stock from straying over newly-sown areas. Interviewed this evening, the fields superintendent to the Department of Agriculture, Mr. ,J. A. Hamblyn, said that there,were 1700 to 1800 acres of land silted in the Esk Valley. There was also other land silted on the East •Coast which would bring the total area to about 3000 acres. Discussing the possibility of the grass gaining a hold before the Mr. Hamblyn said that something had to be done, or all the silt would be blowing about next summer, and there would be no vegetation in the ruined areas. It was very late in the year to expect that the grass would come away, but at least an attempt would have to be made. It was certain that some sort of growth would take place, and this would at least help to consolidate the ground against further winter floods. Regarding the quality and fertility of the silt that had been left in the Esk Valley, Mr. Hamblyn said that it was coarse, but once . the ' pasture obtained a hold, the content would rapidly improve. The quality of the Boil in those areas which had been silted would not be as good as formerly.

ISOLATED WAIROA LOSS OF RAILWAY LINK PEOPLE GREATLY PERTURBED NO ROAD ACCESS TO NAPIER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL BEPOBTEE] WAIROA, Thursday Although the flood havoc has beer spread over a wide area all alone the East Coast, the country between Gisborne, and Wairoa has escaped comparatively lightly. It seems as if the districts north from Gisborne and,south from Mohaka encountered the full force of the floods, while the fairly wide belt of country in between ,has had a much less disastrous experience. > : In Wairoa itself the river banks, right in the centre of the town, still tell the story of the flood. Silt is spread along the lawns which flank .the streets and a children's playground is nothing but a mud' patch. Residents say that the river rose level with the decking of the' new traffic . bridge. The level of the silt is there to prove their Statement. On several occasions, when the flood waters were rushing seaward, fears wpre entertained for the safety of the bridge." The most serious instance of stock loss reported occurred near Frasertown. A large mob of sheep was being brought down to the freezing works at Wairoa and was paddocked for the -night. A : few' hours later the flood waters rose and swept the paddock and 800 sheep were lost. ; . Wairoa's chief plight lies in its comparative isolation. The roads to Gisborne and Rotorua are open, but the town depends mainly on its link with Napier. This, of course, will not be restored for some weeks to come. Cars can proceed south of Wairoa for about 50 miles, but from there on to the Esk Valley there is a stretch of about 20 miles in which whole hillsides have slipped, and which for motor traffic will probably remain impassable for about six weeks. " ■. . : ; ■.■ ' In the meantime Wairoa's chief link with the outside world is through Gisborne or by boat from Napier. The town is naturally greatly perturbed; at the loss of its newly-opened railway connection with Napier and at the thought that it will probably :be months before rail traffic is restored. Before the flood occurred it was expected that passenger traffic would be iriauguarted over the new line in a very short time, but j even then, great use was being made of the railway? for the moving of stock. .. , ' t Settlers in the vicinity-of Lake Watkaremoana recall many unpleasant experiences in'the few days immediately following the flood of April 20, but they state that the ground soon dried and that no insurmountable hardships were encountered.