TOURING FARMERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21090, 16 July 1938, Page 18

TOURING FARMERS

AMAZEMENT AT FLOOD DAMAGE By lei egraph —Press Association HASTINGS. July 15. “Our first glimpse of the desolated Esk Valley caused exclamations of the utmost amazement and sympathy for the settlers affected by the tragic flood.” said Mr A. R. Johnston, the leader of a large party of the Southland farmers visiting Hawke's Bay, when interviewed in Napier to-night. “One could not but be appalled at the awful destruction caused not only by the flood but by the depositing of so much useless silt on what had obviously been a rich and fertile valley. We could easily believe that the Esk Valley had once been one of the most beautiful areas of pastoral lands in New Zealand. It seems incredible that such a small stream could be responsible for the damage, which is beyond description.” The party, which was divided between Napier and Hastings for accommodation. spent the day sightseeing in the towns and countryside. Speaking of the province. Mr Johnston said: "I want to congratulate the local bodies and others concerned on the splendid recovery and rebuilding in the areas, both town and country, damaged by the 1931 earthquake. Little remains to show that the province was ever visited by such a disaster. So far as Napier is concerned, it is almost impossible to believe that the town suffered so terribly such a short time ago.”