THE DAMAGE TO ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 20

THE DAMAGE TO ROADS AND BRIDGES.

RELIEF MEASURES. Napier, April 22. Reports from Puketapu show that the residents there suffered severely by the flood. Harry Gardiner lost his house, containing four roome, and all his furniture ; Smail'a house was ■wasiied off the blocks, and four feet of silt remains iuside. The water was right up to the roof. Me Hayes had lhre t c feot of water in-

doors, and all his furniture was swept out. The house of Mr Morris, of Woodthorpe, was completely wrecked, and most of his furniture is gone. The family had to cross the hills to get to Okaiawa, as there was no place of refuge between those two localities. The family were accommodated at the Okaiawa homestead. The roads at Puketapu are all blocked, making vehicular traffic impossible. There was never so much water before in the place within the memory of the oldest settlers. The Tutaekurf broke its bank at Pakowhni and again at Mr Heslop, sen.'s, where on hundreds of acres there are from 2ft to sft of silt. Mr J. Heslett's woolsheds are considerably damaged, and 14- bales of wool have disappeared. . The paddcck of J, Heslop is covered with totara logs. Mr Langley Shaw got through from inland P.atea after a journey which occupied three diys. He reports that the roads in that district are completely washed away. Birch Bros, are heavy losers. Their wool, stored in a whare 15ffc above the ordinary flood level, was carried away. Further donations to the relief fund : — Ross and Glendining, £30 ; Nathan and Co. (Wellington) £45 ; B. Hallensfcein, £30 ; Evanu and Co. (Timaru) and the Timaru Milling Company, a ton of flour each. A deputation representing locxl bodies waited on the Hon. Mr Hall^-Jones tbis morning and explained the full position, pointing oub the ueceesi.ty for urgent action on the part of the Government. Tfcc Minister, in reply, said ha would impreFs on his colleagues the necessity for pushing on the work of restoring railway communication at once. He eulogised the officers of the department for the energy displayed in the emergency. In reply to a deputation this morning the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones said ho was odlj voicing the opinions of biS colleagues, and indeed of the whole colony, by exposing the deepest sympathy with the people of llawke's Bay in the great calamity they had experienced. He had never before heard of or seen anything so terribly distressing as ho had heard and eeen durmg the last few days. He felt profoundly for the widows and orphans of the brave men who had perisbed. He could conceive of no nobler act than that of a man risking his life in an endeavour to save the lives of others. The Government would do all they possibly could to alleviate the distress. Ho could see that the community had serious difficulties before them, because nob only had they the widows and orphans of the drowned men to consider, but also the position of many others who would be rendered destitute. It would take a little time to organise matters, bub he was glad to find that the inhabitants of the district wore taking prompt and c-ffective measures. On behalf of his colleagues, he was confident he could promise every possible apsistance from the Government. He also promised to see that a railway manager was again appointed for the Napier section, and to facilitate legislation to enable a central river board to be created to deal with all the rivers of the plains. At a public meeting held to-day the Mayor said the latest estimate of loss was at least £150,000. The amount subscribed to date is over £1000. The proposal to divert £250 in hand, portion oi the amount subscribed for the Indian famine relief fund, was unanimously negatived. Gisborne has sent the first donation— £l2s. Mr Coleman aud family have seat £200 ; Speight and Co., Dunedin, £50 ; Union Steam Ship Company, £100, and an offer to carry produce for sufferers free ; Messrs Robjohns, Hondmarsb, and Co., and H. J. Smith, £50 ; and many from £10 lo £25. April 21. Local subscriptions to the flood relief fund are coming in freely, with many donations of clolh'ng, bedding, and other necessaries. Judge Ward Bends £21 from Hokitika. In the Magistrate's Court to-day Mr Turnbull, S.M., referred feelingly to the loss of Sergeant O'Donovan anVl Constable Stephensoa, whom he eulogised as most paiusfcaking, capable officers. Constable Baskiviile has returned from an inspection of the coast line, but found no trace of the missing men. It is rather remarkable that two flooded-out settlers have lost their houses by fire. The Hon Mr H&ll- Jones, who arrived to-day, held a consultation with the chairman of the County Council, the Mayor of Napier, and leading citizens and engineers. The principal question discussed was as to whether the washout &t Waitangi should be dredged or an embankment formed, and the general opinion was in favour of a bridge. In the meantime Mr Hall- Jones promised to restore communication a3 quickly as possible, probibly by means 'fa temporary diversion of the line. He and Mr Houston, M.H R., afterwards left to visit the flooded-out districts. He has already taken steps to have | a punt placed on the Upper Mohaka, on the ' Taupo line, ponding the reconstruction of the j bridge. ' I In order to ficd some particulars of the connections of Mr Rose, drowned in one of the boatsj a eearch was made, amongst his effects. His address was fouud to be "John Rose (J. Smith and Co.), 305 George street, Sydney." It k&s gathered that he had a wife and two children. His wife has been communicated with. April 23. Trains are now running from Te Aute southwards, and passengers can get through to Wellington in one day. The engineer to the Hawke's Bay County Council estimates the damage to roads and | bridges at £25.000. The Wairoa Council suffers severely considering the comparative poverty of that county. The Patangata Council will also be put to considerable expense, but in Waipawa j County the damage is but slight. None of the bodies of chose drowned have yet been recovered, except that of Cunningham, the shepherd at Chesterhope. Auckland. April 23. At a meeting of the Auckland Placing Club the committee deckled to vo'.e £100 to the Hawke's Bay flood relief funds. Subscriptions are steadly coming in from citizens to the fund. New Plymouth, April 23. At a public meeting to-night, thu Hawke's Bay relief fund was started with £4-5 subEcnbed'in the room. Wellington, April 21. A subscription list in aid of sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods has been opened. Mr W. Kennedy has given £50, Mr John Plimmcr £25, Messrs Willi&ms and Beetham (of Masterton) £100. A public meeting is to be held on Friday. The Press Association is advised that the C»We Company will frank cable messages to the other colonieß askiug for assistance. April 23. At a meeting called by the mayor, over which he presided, it was decided to raiso a fund for the relief of Hawke's Bay sufferers, and about £150 was collected in the room. Wkstport, April 21. At a public meeting to-night, the mayor presiding, it was resolved to canvass the town and district for fuuds ia aid of the sufferers by the

Hawke's Bay floods. An entertainment will also be given for the same object. An influential committee was appointed, aud a considerable sum was subscribed in the room. Christchurch, April 21. A representative meeting of citizens, pre« sided over by the mayor, to-day formed a committee to raise funds for the Hawke's Bay sufferers. A subscription list was opened. The General Committee of the Diamond Jubilee celebration meets on Friday night to consider a proposal to use its organisation for raising funds for the same object. This committee is sure to take some action ia that direction. April 23. At a meeting of the Record Reign General Committee to-night, it was resolved that all the fuuds received until May 24- should be devoted to tho Hawke's Biy relief fund, and all collected after thab date to the Jubilee Home. Oamaru, April 23. A meeting was held in connection with the) Hawke's Bay relief fund. Mr J. Reid, of Elderslio, gives £10 10s, and Messrs J. and T. Meek a ton of flour.