HEAVY FLOODS NEAR STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8833, 17 July 1890, Page 2

HEAVY FLOODS NEAR STRATFORD.

LARGE EXTENT OF COUNTRY UNDER WATER. BRIDGES CARRIED AWAY. PLUCKY CONDUCT OF MR AIKEN MESSRS ROWE AND WALSH SWIM SEVEN STREAMS. [FROM THE " EGMONT SETTLER."] The exceptionally heavy rains that have fallen during the lasbweek have completely flooded the country down the East Road. Late on Saturday night Messrs Rowe and Walsh returned from the camps down the East Road, it having taken them five days to go and return thirty miles. We are 1 indebted to them for particulars of their I adventures. It was their intention to start on Thursday week and return the following Saturday ; but the weather being threatening they put it off until Tuesday. j On the Friday the rain commenced, and continued day after day, and, knowing the camps down the East Road were getting short and totally dependent upon them for food, they started early on Tuesday, and succeeded, after a great deal of trouble, in reaching the furthest camp. The heavy rains and the state of the track made the journey one of great difficulty, but on the journey out again the difficulties were increased ten fold. Both the bridges on the Toko and Makuri streams were carried away, as well as the bridges on four other smaller streams, the whole of which they had to swim. In crossing the Makuri they nearly lost one of their pack horses. It was carried some distance down the stream, and finally got entangled in the top of a submerged tree, and, being by this time quite exhausted, would have been drowned had not Mr Aiken pluckily swam in and succeeded in making a ropo fast to it, when it was pulled out. Both Mr Rowe and Mr Walsh speak in the highest terms of tho conduct of Mr Aiken in venturing in to the rescue of the poor animal. The stream, near the Standish Road is overflowing its banks, and running right down the East Road in a strong stream, some miles of the road being under water three feet and in some places five feet deap. Mr O'Connor's house is well out of the water, but his potato field is three feet under water, only the tops of the potato pits being visible above the water. It is estimated that there are considerably over 200 men down the' East Road, most of whom, are entirely depending on pack horses for their supplies; wild pork being the only food available in the blocks, and that is sometimes difficult to get. There are several contracts of bush felling to bo let down this road, but tho present Btate of the road deters people from going to look at the work, and it is costing 2s 6d per cwt to take in provisions. Unless the weather takes up soon it will be very difficult to keep the camps supplied , as, owing to the state of the road, a horse can only take in half the usual load.