WEST COAST FLOODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19947, 15 November 1926, Page 6

WEST COAST FLOODS.

INVESTIGATING the DAMAGE. TOUR OF MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. (Per United Press Association.) REEFTON, November 13. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon K. S. Williams) arrived at Reet ; ton at noon. He inspected the flood damage at Mawheraiti, en route from Grevmouth, and received deputations. He left' later for Westport, and will inspect the bridge that was destroyed at Lam s Creek! and also the damage m the Inangahua and Buller Valleys. THE MINISTER AT WESTPORT. A CIVIC RECEPTION. (Per United Press Association.) WESTPORT, November 14. The Minister arrived last evening from Reefton, and en route he inspected the flood damage. He was accorded a civic reception by the Mayor (Mr C. N. Greenland) on this, the Ministers first, visit to Westport. Mr H. E. Holland (member for the electorate and Leader of the Opposition), Mr J. H. Rowed (chairman of the Buller County Council) Mr J. Menzics (an ex-Mayor of Westport), and Mr F. S. Wood (for the Buller Progress League), also spoke in welcome, to which the Minister, m reply, thanked the speakers, and expressed' regret that his first visit was made at a time when such disaster had been wrought by the flood. He in tended to make a full inquiry while there and in the adjoining districts and see what could be done in the way of relief. . . To-day the Minister, accompanied by engineers and representatives of the residents of Westport and Buller County, inspected the river bank at the sites of the worst encroachments, and also inspected homes typical of those that had suffered from flood damages. The Minister will make a tour of the coastal road as far as Tiromoana on Monday, and will receive deputations in the evening. leaving overland for Nelson on Tuesday.