GREY RIVER SWOLLEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22507, 15 September 1938, Page 12

GREY RIVER SWOLLEN

HEAVY RAIN ON WESf COAST CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF SHIPS PRECAUTIONS TO LESSEN STRAIN ON MOORINGS [THE PRESS Special Service.] GREYMOUTH, September 14Because of the heavy rain, especially in the back country during the last 24 hours, the Grey river to-day was swollen considerably, and at a late hour to-night was running at IQ knots, compared with the usual three or four knots. A warning was broadcast during the night to settlers in the adjacent districts to remove their stock from lowlying land, arid it was said that in some districts telephone communication had been interrupted because of the storm, which has /iow abated considerably. At Omoto, near Greymouth, between 5 and 6 p.nl. to-day. the Grey river rose about four feet. The road near the Blackball bridge was covered to a depth of about a foot by the flood waters. Some concern was felt in Greymouth to-night for the safety of the only two vessels in port, apart from two steam trawlers, the Union Company’s steamers Omana (1513 tons), the largest ship ever to have entered this port, and the Kaimiro (1136 tons), should there be a considerable increase in the current of the river before high water at 1.30 a.m. to-morrow. All precautions have been taken by the acting-har-bourmaster at Greymouth (Captain HMoar), for both ships, which have steam up, and whose propellers are turning over at some speed to ease the strain on the moorings. Extra wire hawsers, chains, and rope lines have been run out to the wharf.

On the Omana, which is almost empty, and .is loading timber lor Adelaide, the steam pipe conveying power to the winches and the windlass on the foredeck burst early this afternoon. As a result, no steam is available in that part of the ship and in the event of any emergency arising to-night because of the state of the river, the position would be serious. Anchors could not be dropped nor lines heaved. The burst pipe has been taken ashore for repairs which cannot be completed until about midday to-morrow. The aft mooring lines on the Kaimiro carried away about 5 pjn. to-day and the stern of the vessel was forced about 30ft out from the wharf by the current. Because of the danger which would be involved to the bow moorings, it is considered safer not to attempt to warp the stern Into the wharf until conditions improve. At a late hour to-night, heavy rain was falling at Greymouth.