HEAVY STOCK LOSSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25347, 31 October 1945, Page 6

HEAVY STOCK LOSSES

RIVER RISES 50 FEET CONDITIONS IN TARANAKI (0.c.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday _ Serious losses of stock in the 'lokirima district were caused by floods resulting from heavy ruin that has fallen in north and east Taranaki. Three men worked for 24 hours in a boat through the night and into this morning in an endeavour to save some of the sheep that the flood was washing away when the Ohura Kiver rose about oOft. but in spite of this Messrs -T. Penny and i). Craig lost large numbers of ewes and lambs. At least two homes had to bo evacuated, and in other cases, although the water had not reached the level of the dwellings, it had Hooded farm buildings and washed away stock. _ A resident said it would take some time before the waters receded to normal level, because heavy rain was still falling this morning. The intake of the dam that supplies Ohura with water has been blocked and residents aro having to cart supplies for domestic use. The Stratford-Taumarunui mad is blocked bv slips in Tangarakau Gorge, which it is estimated by the Works Department will take ten days to clear. All the slips, of which there were at least ten today, are large.