AFTER THE FLOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 5

AFTER THE FLOOD

DAMAGE IN COUNTRY STOCK AND PROPERTY AFFECTED f From Our Oicn Correspondtnt.) NGATEA, Friday. Now that the flood waters have subsided, it si possible to gain some idea of the damage done by water in the Thames Valley and Hauraki Plains districts. It is apparent that in some places the danger to residents and stock was very much greater than could be ascertained at the time. With the break in the eastern bank of the Waihou River, near Tirohia. on Wednesday night, the river where it skirts the Hauraki Plains fell rapidl> ainl by Thursday afternoon the water had commenced to flow off the land. A great amount of damage has been done on the farms in the small area affected near Carter’s corner, on the Turua-Xetherton Road. Settlers report that numbers of cows have slipped their calves through the cold and excitement of having to stand in water for two days and a night. Owing to numbers of wooden bridges over drains having been washed away, stock could not be shifted from flooded positions, nor could hay be fed to them. Waitakaruru suffered on account of the rush of water from the hills, which washed away a tilling on the Mangatarata Road, and flooded all the flat out to the Maukoro Canal. Many pigs were drowned, and several houses were rendered temporarily uninhabitable. Elsewhere on the Hauraki Plains no great damage was done, and the water got away quickly. The area under the control of the Hauraki United Drainage Board show eel the great benefit of its extensive drainage scheme, and by Thursday there was no sign in the greater part of the area that tjlero had been a flood. The Piako River is expected to rU next week, but by theh the distant water will be well away, and no harm will result as long as fine weather continues. NEARLY A DISASTER. Had the break in the Waihou River stopbank at Tirohia been on the Hauraki Plains side, the disaster would have been terrible, for the river was 10 fet% above the average land level Hauraki Plai f • does not realise tji»narrowness of its escape. A break Tad occur on the Plains side, but before this became big the bank on the Paeroa side gave away, and inundated tens of thousands of acres. WORST FOR YEARS FARMERS SWIM TO STOCK STOPBANKS BREAK AWAY (From, Our Own Correspondent.) PAEROA. Friday. It is difficult to estimate the damage that has occurred throughout Thames Valley as a result of the floods. climbed the hills at Paeroa at daybreak on Wednesday to view the flood. Almost as far as the eye could see the low levels for miles around were under water. The flood is estimated to have been higher than on any previous occasion. A MOURNFUL SCENE A scene of devastation is presented in the outlying farming country. Practically 3,000 acres on either side of the railway line between Thames and Te Aroha was inundated to a considerable depth. Mill Road, near Paeroa, on Thursday presented a mournful scene. The farmers say they ha.ve never experienced anything like it before. In many parts of the district farmers under most trying circumstances were seen up to their waists In water trying to save their stock, but much loss has been occasioned. The right stop-bank on the Waihou River, near Cadman Road, broke away for some chains on Wednesday and the flood water made across country, covering the land to a'depth of several feet. The bursting of the bank gave little warning, and in a short time some farmhouses along the river suffered considerably. BOATS SAVE FAMILIES Boats had to be brought into requisition to remove the occupants, otherwise they would have been drowned. Stock was seen swimming for their lives for the higher ground. Six feet of water covering hundreds of acres was visible everywhere. The Public Works Department dredges had to cease working, with the result that over 100 men have been temporarily suspended. It is expected that work on the stop-banks with the dredges will be renewed on Monday, to repair the damage that has been done, and a large staff of extra men will have to be engaged.