THE FLOODS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3610, 22 May 1923, Page 41

THE FLOODS.

THE TAIERI PLAIN. A COSTLY FLOOD. A Daily Times reporter stood on the face of a hill that rises off the road just past the White House of Henley on too 15th, and from that vantage point looked to the front, to the leR, and to the right. In no direction was there a break in the great, dirty sheet that remains in placj of what wfls called the Taieri Plain except where houses, stacks, and trees, with here and there an odd piece of high country, appeared to save the outlook from being a complete waste of watei. It was water that seemed to average something under 4ft in depth, judging by the fact that only an inch or two of the fencetops were to be seen. Then he thought of the man he had met back along the road. The man had remarked, “It’d take more than the Yanks to bottle this up. Lake Waihola was located, at least tho place where the lake is known to be could be seen, but of the lake itself there was no sign. It was part of the great Taieri Lake extending north-east from Waihola to the foot of the hills to the east and as far as the eye could reach to the north. There could "be no doubt about it, the Taieri was suffering from one of the greatest floods in its history. They had motored from Dunedin, and when they turned down from Saddle Hill they saw the first signs of the memorable invasion. It was apparent then that there was considerably more water on parts of the plain than there was three weeks ago. Two or three miles from Mosgiel the water was to be seen covering acres of land, and the well-known draught-board appearance of the Taieri Plain had vanished. Perhaps, however, it was not until a stop was made at East Taieri that the extent of the flood was brought home. A walk over rising fields that, were in a sodden state, although they looked quite dry from the roadway, and the scene from Owhiro lay outspread. “Water, water, everywhere,” of a truth. Somewnere coursed the river that was responsible for the transformation, but there was nothing to show where but the lines of willow trees that grow on its banks. The river and the vast spread of water were on a level. Just then a train came past, and the noise that its jostling trucks made was carried over the water, for, be it understood, the line to the south at present runs for miles with the flood but a few inches from the rails on either side. Here, as elsewhere, there were houses to lie seen, and, with the sympathy that recent events have given, the townsman thought of the ruin that must lie in process within them. The water in many of the places, despite tho fact that they have been built high with a view to such occurrences, could not be less than 2ft deep. Needless to sav, there was no smoke rising from the chimneys, for, like the fields, they were deserted. There were exceptions, these being the places where the owners decided to “stick it out,” spending Sunday night measuring the rise of the waters and with a boat moored to the doorstep. But most of these people, seeing that the morrow brought little hope of relief for some time to come, used the boats and, like their more apprehensive neighbours, sought shelter with the fortunates in the floodless districts. From Otokia there was another dreary sight, the little railway siding and the comparativcly large goods shed reminding one

of the baby of the family being encouraged by his big brother. Here were more deserted houses, more fence and hedge tops, more dreary, wet-looking trees and more stolidly indignant stacks.. It was something of a relief to see that at Allanton there was nothing like the amount of water there was on the Monday following the last flood. The river here was keeping to its course, and was about 4ft below the bridge. But there was no passage a little way on the road towards Momona and Outram, which was covered to a depth of a foot for about 400 yards. Here it was that one who in the near future may qualify as the oldest inhabitant stated that the water had been 18 inches deep in the Momona dairy factory, which he had never known to occur before, and that Mr Jack Bruce, living near Momona, had suffered the only known loss of stock in the shape of some young pigs. It was here, too, that there was ample evidence of the invasion of some winter apple store. Experience proved that they had not been spoilt by the water. But what of the stacks? Literally, hundreds of them the,re were, all with four feet of water about them. Assuredly they will not come through as well as the apples. And then there were the turnips and mangolds to be thought of. Nothing was, of course, to be seen of them, and it does not seem likely that they will ever be fit for use. Only by peeing the scope of the flood and by thinking on the spot of what it means can one appreciate the destruction of winter feed apart from the pasture. But there was the inevitable optimist, and he pointed out that rotten straw and rotten turnips would make good manure, while the silt that had been deposited would eventually enrich the land. lie was quite happy about it, apparently. THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY*. The corporation sanitary inspector is endeavouring to persuade the residents of Laurel Bank not to return to their houses, as it is intended to take immediate steps to iiave the places condemned officially and pulled down as speedily as possible. Tile position naturally raises difficulties, and there is reason to believe that at least a proportion of the nine families affected are not able to meet the rents demanded for other quarters. ci WONDERFUL RECORD. While the two floods that have visited Dunedin recently have come to be but unpleasant memories, there will always be remembered, as standing out against the story of ruin, the response of the people to appeals for help and the wonderful dev© tion of those who worked at the central depot and at the Salvation Army Citadei. Since the Monday of the first flood the depot has been open every day, but the work there is now drawing to its end. Shortly after the depot was opened under the charge of the Rev. Bryan King that gentleman took ill, and since that time the strenuous and multifarious duties of directing the relief activities have been borne by the Rev. G. Moreton, who is beginning to show signs of the great strain. With the principal very many other workers were associated, but there now remain but three, or four ladies who have stuck to the task nil through. A reporter who stole a few minutes of Mr Moreton’s busy time on Wednesday was given au insight into tne magnitude of the task that had been accomplished. The system of area officers and reports has been explained already in these columns. “To date we have received 700 reports on necessitous cases,” said Mr Moreton, and he passed over a few for inspection “This family is living in a condemned house which is full of dirt and silt,” read one. “The conditions are terrible.” Hundreds of garments have been distributed among the affected people, who have also received a tremendous quantity of foodstuffs among them through the depot. Beds, mattresses, and blankets are now being distributed, and 400 families have benfited in that way. Then 520 quarter-ton lots of coal have been sent out for drying •he houses. Besides the gifts in kind the depot officers have received donations ot over £SOO, including, by the way, eight guineas from the Chinese residents, some of whom were grateful receivers of assistance. Probably one of the greatest tributes to the spirit of the workers of rhe depot was paid by Mr Moreton when he remarked that there had not been one cross word among the assistants even at those times when one could have been, perhaps excused. DAMAGE TO SCHOOL PROPERTY. The Education Board architect (Mr J. Rodger) submitted the following report to last week’s meeting of the” Education Board : The flood of three weeks ago caused a good deal of work at Albany Street, Kensington, and Anderson Bay Schools. The janitor’s cottage at Albany street and the school and janitor’s cottage at Kensington were invaded by flood water to a depth in each case of nearly 2ft, and the cleaning away of the silt deposited in the buildings and over the grounds provided work for a gang of men for fully a week. Slips which occurred behind the new building and also behind tho main school at Anderson Bay (due to water flowing from the property immediately behind the school) had to be cleared away, and about 45ft of a concrete retaining wall behind the upper playground was carried away or damaged to such an extent that it must be rebuilt. An examination of the janitor’s cottage at Albany street showed piles washed out of position and plates and piles decayed so badly that renewal was absolutely necessary. As this cottage was flooded on a previous occasion, and stood too close to the ground in a lowlying position, I have put the .men on to lift it and to renew the plates and piles and make all good again. When this work is finished, the cottage will be very much improved, while the risk of again being flooded will be greatly reduced. New piles and plates, in addition to painting and papering, were necessary in any case, and the expense in lifting it is not a serious matter. The janitor’s cottage at Kensington. as well as the teachers’ room and office, will also need to be painted and papered, and some expense is necessary to make the floor coverings in the teachers’ room and office good again. Musselburgh, Forbury, and Maeandrew Road School grounds were also flooded, but the water did not go inside the buildings, and very little silt was left on the ground. The expense to the board in making good at the schools named above I estimate at about £l5O.

It was decided to ask the architect to make a full estimate of the amount of Iho damage, and then to forward an application to the Education Department for a special grant. BLENHEIM FLOODS. VISIT OF HON. J. G. CGATES. BLENHEIM, May 14 The Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, who arrived from Wellington last night, was waited on by representatives of all local bodies in the province with requests for assistance in repairing flood damage. In no case were the estimates as to the amount required to reinstate various public works available, as parts of the district, were still under water; but tho River Board indicated that a very substantial amount, probably running into £20,000, would be required in connection with tho restoration and improvement of the river protection works. The Awatere County representatives also reported exceptionally heavy damage in the Upper Awatere, where the carrying away of bridges had left pack-horses as the only means of communication in most cases. 'J he local authorities suggested pound for pound subsidies. The Minister was very sympathetic, and asked the local bodies to confer with the Public Works Engineer in getting out estimates of the cost of the works necessary, and he promised favourable consideration of the requests for financial assistance. Mr Sharpe, inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department, indicated that, there was no possibility of the Clarence bridge being repaired before Christmas. Thus, through motor traffic from Marlborough to Canterbury is a thing of the past for a considerable period. May 16. The Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates) spent yesterday in a tour of the Wairau Plains, inspecting damage done by the floods. He was much impressed by the havoc caused to the River Board’s protective works, particnl irly at Whittle’s Bend. To-day the Ministerial party accompanied by Mr W. J. Girling, M.P., left on a visit to Clarence Bridge. The party expect to return to Blenheim to-night May 18. The principal result of the visit to Marlborough of the Minister of Public Works was his sympathy with the local bodies in the damage suffered public works, and his willingness to recommend assistance to the utmost amount possible in reinstating the damaged bridges and roads. A general inspection was made of the roads from Blenheim to Clarence bridge, which prevents a big problem. It will be January next at the earliest before traffic across it can be resumed. RELIEF FUND. WELLINGTON, May 15. Douglas Fairbanks, who is coming to New Zealand to film a section of two plays, on learning of the floods, contributed iOQ dollars (£2O) to the Blenheim relief fund.