Thames Valley Area.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19623, 3 February 1936, Page 3

Thames Valley Area.

HEAVY STOCK LOSSES.

MANY SHEEP DROWNED,

RESCUES FROM HOUSETOPS. Floowing was general throughout the Thames Valley districts, and at the Puke Bridge locality, near Paeroa, the waters rose to an alarming height and many people were rescued from their rooftops by boats. from the Kauaeranga district and southwards serious losses ol stock are reported. Cattle, horses and pigs in varying numbers were either swept away or drowned in the Kauaeranga Valley. At the Parawai racecourse. Thames borough abattoirs, and paddocks adjoining, and at Rhode* Park, large numbers of slice]) per ished, while at Puriri Mr. Colin Kelly lost 1.1 pedigree rams. Mr. Tony \ oyk'".;=li, of the Kauaeranga Valle-., !<--l his entire crop of grapes, which were just ripening. I he Hood waters sweeping across his property and carrying everything before them.

On the lower-lying country east of the main valley road farmers suffered severe losses with stock, several hundreds of sheep being lost, besides a number of beasts and horses.

At Matatoki the gale was fierce (.'iiougli to blow the roof from the residency of Mr. T. McLoughlin. Owing to the power supply being cut off many farmers had to resort to hand-milking. A- consignment of GOO breeding ewes, purchased by Mr. T. Anderson, of Putaruru, and other Waikato farmers from Coromandel, were landed from two scows at llikutaia on Saturday evening and placed in a holding paddock near the saleyards. Of the GOO animals, over 450 were found drowned yesterday morning. Mr. Anderson is believed to be the heaviest loser. Nothing could be done to sa\c the sheep owing to the.darkness and the rapidity of the rise of the natei.