EROSION ON HILLSIDES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23591, 27 February 1940, Page 9

EROSION ON HILLSIDES

STOCK SWEPT AWAY TARANAKI DISTRICTS PROBLEM OF GETTING SUPPLIES [BY TELEGBA'PH PRESS ASSOCIATION^ NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday Tearing pastures from hillsides, sweeping stock away in raging torrents and severing road and rail connections, the week-end flood did damago in northern and easteim Taranaki which can not yet be estimated. The county councils have appealed to the Government for help in repairing damage. There must be many back country settlers isolated and facing a serious food problem. Along the main highway marooned travellers and residents are running short of supplies. Plans are on foot to take supplies out by aeroplanes from the Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Bell Block, near New Plymouth.

The main highway from Now Plymouth to Auckland was open as far as Uruti to-day. It will probably be weeks before the Stratford-Okahukura railway line is open. Extensive damage has been done on the northern part of the line. NIGHT SPENT ON ROOF SIX MEN MAROONED WATER TO TOP OF WINDOWS TRYING TIME ON ISLAND [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] TAUMARUNUI, Monday One of the six men marooned on Winters Island, Mr. Ron Harland, swam the Wanganui River this morning with great difficulty and reached land exhausted. The men on the island, all of whom were taken off this afternoon, had a terrible time on Saturday night. The hut was washed away and Mr. Harland, the occupier, lost all his belongings. In the main house the water reached the top of the windows and the men had to spend the night on the roof. The lights and telephone failed and they had very little food. Mr. Harland described the experiences of the six marooned men on Saturday night. "The water was rising so rapidly in the house that we decided to make for the roof in the evening," he said. "As we were getting out flood waters carried the door away. My father was in the kitchen and could not open the door against the swift current.-We were all up to our necks in water and could not get to him. To make it worse the lights failed. "My father managed to force the door partly open, but the current closed it and caught his arm. My brothers, Jack and Ralph, tried to reach him through the back door. We coukl not get out the front way, as there was a danger of being crushed by a small cottage which was being washed toward the house. Finally my father managed to struggle close to the window and wo were able to get him out with us and on to the roof. It was a.very close call." The Harlands lost all their personal belongings. Stock comprising 28 sheep and six cows were also lost.