WATERS RECEDE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18426, 6 July 1925, Page 8

WATERS RECEDE.

flood danger over. WEATHER STILL UNSETTLED. Presenting a marked contrast, to the weather ■ during tho week, Saturday broke line and warm and, until late in the afternoon, conditions outdoors continued extremely pleasant. Saturday night was cold with a suspicion of fog in tho air, and yesterday proved ono of thoso dull, grey days which are so often a forerunner of rain. About 7 o'clock last evening rain began to fall, and continued in light showers until lato into the night. "With the rain the weather became appreciably colder and general indications were that further showers could be expected. * Floods Seceding. Both in the country and in the city the dry weather of Saturday afforded an opportunity of estimating the amount of damage caused by the Hoods. In the City the Tramway Department seem tho most heavy losers, and a good deal of work will be required to fill in the pot holes along the tramway rails. Gangs were out carrying out repair work all day on Saturday. In North Canterbury the flood waters were reported to be receding rapidly, and the Ashley River was again running within its banks. Tho road and riverbed approaching the bridge were again fit for traffic. The Railways. On Saturday morning the Railway Department roportcd that the Southbridge lino was again fit for traffic and that the damage which had occurred in tho vicinity of Ellesmero had- been repaired by 10 a.m. that day. The Midland line was again operating on Saturday, although there was some delay on account of trains having to proceed cautiously over those parts of the line weakened by the floods. No trains were run on tho Eyrcton line from Kaiapoi to Bennetts. Power Line Breaks. On account of tho floods in the Hawkins and Selwyn rivers washing away several of the poles, tho middle and north transmission lines of the Lake Colcridgo power supply wero out ol commission on Friday, tho south line carrying the full load from the powerhouse. On Friday Mr F. T. M. Kissol, Chief Electrical Engineer, Wellington, and Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, resident electrical engineer, Christehurch, inspected the damage. Mr Mac Gibbon reported yesterday that men had been engaged on repair work on Saturday and at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening tho damage had been made good, and both lines wero again put into operation. Ellesmere District. A report from Ellesmere on Saturday stated that the flood in the Selwyn River had receded considerably and tho people, who had left their hoines in anticipation of a serious , flood, had roturned. The water was stated to havo receded from the railway line, and through traffic was again possible. With regard to the traffic bridge, the approach to which was washed away yesterday, it was reported that light traffic _ and motor-cars could get across all right. There was still a considerable amount of water lying about oil tho other side of tho bridge. Coalgate. Now that the floods have subsided somewhat, if is possible to estimate tho dnmago done. -As tho .1923 flood had widened- tho channel of the Selwyn horo by nearly two chains, it is now certain that last Friday's flood waters readied a considerably higher level than two years ago. Further erosion has taken place, and a footpath round the foot of tho rocks has been washed away, effectually cutting off access to the pleasant little picnic ground on the south side of tho bridge. Tho river-is now flowing in two channels, and cacn successive flood puts them widor apart, and tho river is steadily approaching both ends of the bridgo. On tho Glentunncl Domain water flowed all over tho sports grounds and tennis courts. Considerable erosion took place on the west side two years ago, but a line of willows planted two years ago prevonted erosion. It was noted, however, that whoro the willows had not grown well tho water was -washing in, this pointing to tho fact that the line muat.be continuous, and that no must be offered for the river to get in behind. At tho Glontunhel bridge a pile was loosenod in 1923, and another one was loosened on Friday. The flood waters reached their maximum height at about 9 a.m. on Friday, and thereafter fell rapidly. A further 43 points of ram wero recorded on Saturday morning, making over 5i inches for tho week. No ram foil on Saturday morning, but the slcj was heavily overcast. 'Mid-Canterbury. The various Ashburton County rivers aro almost back to normal, lhe water ceased flowing across the approach. to tho Ashburton traffic bridge on-the Main South road, early on Saturday morning. Luckily the water did not have much force behind it, anc litfclo damage was done to the approach Tho heavv fence on the left-hand side was scoured out for several chains, and a temnorarv fenco has been erected. During Friday, and Saturday hundreds of interested Ashburton. and 'imwald people visited tho scene, and tho edge of the water on both sides, while it prevented pedestrians from crossing, was lined with a gazing crowd. The Ashburton golf links havo suffered considerable' the water having deposited silt and shingle all over the course, and on a number of greens. Although the water reached a depth of over two feot in the golf-house, no damage was done, and after a few hours' work on Satur- j dav a band <>f members soon made tho place habitable. I'lav will not bo suspended for very long. No serious damage was done to any of the bridges ( in the county. Tho weather at Methvcn is still dull, but the rain has ceased for the present. Thirteen points were registered for tho hours ending at !) a.m. on Saturday. Most of the water has disappeared from the township roads. The heavy'rains of the last few days haVc dispersed all the 1 snow, which covered the ground to a depth of several inches. At Ruapuna heavy fogs hung about for two days, but the sky is now clearing. A week of clear nights anil crisp frosts will make the swimming bath jit once more for skating upon, and tho possibility of an ice carnival has been mooted. Thursday at Sprmgston proved to be one of the worst days of the storm that lias been raging since yesterday week. In tho morning the conditions wero strange to tho point of seeming unnatural. Rain had fallen all tho previous night, and this caused a fast melting of the snow which was still Jying. Thick vapours rose off the sodden ground, and heavy mists rolled through the air. The daylight penetrated the mists but dimly, and the natural order of a dark earth and light sky was reversed to a white earth and a dark grey sky. Tho fast thawing of tho snows and lieavy rain caused the rivers to come down in high flood. Heavy rain continued all Thursday night, and Friday morning saw little sigu of abate- j meat. Rivers arc in their highest flood, j

The remarkable thing is that conditions at present arc so mi id: that it is ruining instead of snowing.

Last Ave ok was a remarkable \v cc k at Mount Somcrs .so far as the wont her was concerned. For ten inches of snowto fall aml then disappear in less time than it. took to come, almost in :i night, needs to be seen to bo appreciated. On Thursday morning the mild north-west wind, licking up tlie snow, turned round to an easterly, bearing heavy drops of rain and fog so thick that objects two hundred yards oil were invisible. As this lifted during the day the rain became heavier, until'by evening the land Avas submerged with water inches deep. A very unfamiliar thing, the roar of the river, could be heard. The property least liked was the penetrating power of tho water-vapour, which found iis way in at every crevice. On "Wednesday the temperature was OS, ou Thursday 44, and on Friday morning 4!>. All Thursday night the rain poured, and on Friday an extremely thick drizzle was experienced. Several motor mishaps of a minor character occurred. South Canterbury. A considerable improvement took place in tho weather conditions at Timaru on Saturday morning, and for a time it appeared as though the clouds were about to roll away at last. Tht promise of a break was not fulfilled, but although the remainder of tho day was dull no rain fell, and in the afternoon the streets wero dry for tho first time since the commencement of- the bad weather. Owing to the soft state of the grounds on Saturday as a result of a week's rain, all Eugby fixtures were postponed.

The flood damage to the Lower Tareora bridge proves to have been less serious than earlier reports indicated, and tho bridge is still negotiablo by light traffic, going slowly. Three piles have been washed away, and a fourth is in ( a precarious position, but the bridge is held together "by iron stays, and unless further piles go there is 110 great danger of subsidence. A much more serious position exists at tho saloyards bridge over tho Opihi river at Pleasant Point, the piles having been underscoured to such an extent that the bridgo has been closed to traffic. WAIKATO RIVER STILL RISING. (mess ASSOCIATION* TELEGItAIT.) AUCKLAND, July 5. The latest report from Mercer last night stated that tho Waikato Bivcr was still rising. STORM IN HAWKE'S BAY. (F&KSS ASSOCIATION IlLIOBAU.) HASTINGS, July -4. In the last few days rain has fallen in There is anxiety over floods. Last night tho Ngnruroro overflowed its banks at Pakouhai, but this was anticipated, and stock had been removed to a higher level. Last night's storm eased off towards morning, giving the a chance to get away. Tho Tukituki is well within its banks. The weather is easing, but is unsettled and threatening.

RAILWAY LINE FLOODED. (rjtBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGJUH.) DUNEDIN, July 4. Flood water invaded tho south railway line at Otokia last night, fortunately after the express had gone through, A goods train was held up. This morning tho line was clear, the only service interrupted being to Outram. Torday the sun is shining for the first time this week.