WAITARA RIVER AT HIGHEST LEVEL FOR MANY YEARS

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 September 1950, Page 6

WAITARA RIVER AT HIGHEST LEVEL FOR MANY YEARS

■ NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night ' <PA).—Heavy rain in the back coun- ■ try o£ Taranaki in the past two days ' brought the Waitara River today to ' the highest level it has been for years. ■ Stock losses were caused to some farmers and there were tense • moments when a new 30-foot launch broke adrift and was swept helpless ’ downstream. Among the debris carried down by the river were the ■ carcases of sheep, pigs and cattle. One farmer, Mr. A. Holley, estimates his total loss of sheep at about 90 twotooth ewes. His stock was grazing ‘ on land over-run by the river. Examination of the carcases along the beach : has shown Mr. Holleythat a number are his. ' The launch, still unnamed, had two men, Mr. R. Adamson, of Stratford, ' owner, and Mr. R. Mallett aboard when the moring lines broke. The ’ engine had not been assembled and the 1 craft was in a serious plight when Mr. M. Edwards in the fishing launch Mollyhawk gave chase and succeeded in edging the drifting launch into the shelter of the bank.