FLOOD DAMAGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22201, 19 February 1942, Page 4

FLOOD DAMAGE

Government Help Sought NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 18. In view of the heavy loss suffered by farmers in the Okoke. Okau and Whangamomona districts as a result of the floods in early January, the North Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union is to make strong representations to the Government for assistance for these farmers. In appealing to the executive for assistance an Okoke settler stated that he estimated the damage to his property at £5OO. Where he had once grazed 70 cows there was now a thick covering of silt and debris. Over 50 chains of fencing had been swept away, and a ton of grass seed would be required for resowing of pastures. A detailed report on the damage to five farms was submitted to the meeting by Mr J. H. Hopkins, of the Department of Agriculture. Most of the damage had been caused by the washing down from the higher country of enormous amounts of both green and dry timber, which had plied up in front of bridges on Piko Road. In some cases whole valleys were filled in. The deposits of timber on the properties of Messrs J. Hoskin and C. V. Ekdahl were so vast that it was difficult to understand where they had come from. Valleys on Mr Hoskin’s property were completely filled with logs, in some places to a depth of 12 feet. The cowshed had been completely submerged in water and was now partly burled In silt. Mr Hoskin had suffered such heavy losses that he was seriously thinking of leaving the district. About 100 acres of Mr Ekdahl’s farm had been completely covered with timber and silt. Unless the timber could be burnt it would take years to clear away, Mr Hopkins stated. In the mean_ time the 70 cows were being milked on a neighbour's farm.