WATERLOGGED FLATS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19701, 5 August 1938, Page 6

WATERLOGGED FLATS

MOST PASTURES COVERED Y.OUNG LAAlli MORTALITY PLIGHT OF THE FARMERS "In all my 30 years' experience in Gishorne, I have never know the flats to be so wet as they are now," stated a farmer from the flat country today, 'after travelling over much of the area. 'The flats are more than wet," he added. "Most of the paddocks arcunder .surface water, and they have been like that for almost four weeks now. We have never had conditions like it before, to my knowledge." He added that the drains were incapable of carrying off the great amount of water, and many of the roadways were also under water this morning. The country was so wet that many of the farmers were unable to garage their cars, which had to be left at the front gate. "Mine has had to stay there." he added. The worst aspect of the position seems to be in regard to the early lambing, and conditions could not be worse than the continued wet. There is not a dry place on the flats, and early Jambs 'died as fast as they were born. Fully 50 per cent of the early lambs so far >had died, according to one estimate Last night's rain did not threaten a flood in the Waipaoa River. Apparently there was not so much rain in the high country as there was in Gisborne, and no anxiety was expressed The river this morning was only about' three-quarters full.