HARD LUCK STORIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16406, 12 April 1924, Page 11

HARD LUCK STORIES.

FROM NORTH AUCKLAND

It is difficult bit- townspeople to realists the ruination that the floods entail for the small farmers and settlers up north, but the details which are tittering through from the affected areas give sumo idea, of the financial loss involved (states the Auckland Star). In the Albany district there was a rise of sixteen'feet of water, which swept, all before, it. One farmer lost a large field of Swede turnips being grown for winter fodder, the whole lot being carried off in the river, although tbe land is fairly high where the crop was growing. Tho Makarau, Valley has been swept absolutely clean—fences, farm buildings, and practically all improvements having disappeared. " Even dwellings in some cases did not escape the flood, although homes arn generally built on high ground. In quite a number of places the contents of houses were seen floating half submerged in tho tide, along with trees and other debris.

A number of bridge contractors have had heavy losses in the Helensville and Kaukapakapa. districts. In every ease they have lost all. their camp fittings, stores and bridge supplies. One man had 12 tons of cement landed where he was working the day before the floods, and, of course, lost all the cement with the rest of his material.