SAMOAN FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23281, 25 February 1939, Page 19

SAMOAN FLOODS

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE PLANTERS' DIFFICULTIES SHORTAGE OF WATER [from our own correspondent] APIA, Feb. 10 Now that the flood waters havo subsided and the sun is shining again, it is possiblo to see the damage done by last month's downpour. Sonio of the villages are in a pitiful state. Where the rule has been cleanliness and tidiness there are iioav sludge and rubbish which, now drying, is not conducive to tho general good health. The Public Works Department has gangs of men working at high pressure in repairing highways and making temporary tracks where necessary and, although they are making good headway, it will bo months before the damage is fully repaired. Planters are suffering great inconvenience through the want of domestic water. In 0110 place more than 1200 ft. cf main was carried away, and many trees were uprooted and fell across the channel. Water in many instances has to bo carted for two miles and more. The Ululoloa Dairy Company had more than 200 head of cattle to water, and this was accomplished by tho good old water cart until an efficient pump was installed and a supply raised over '2ooft.. from the river. Mr. O. F. Nelson is a heavy loser, as his hydro installation was destroyed. The river bank was washed away and tho wheel, which was about 20yds. from the old water course, is now well in the river. Tho dynamos, etc., had to bo hastily removed to save them. Here, too, the domestic water supply is a problem, the only solution being the water cart. On the plantations the clearing work is progressing well and copra being cut again, but, of course, there is no cocoa to harvest. Weeds are springing up everywhere and it is almost impossible to keep the blocks clean with the insufficient supply of labour.