GALE AND HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTH

Chronicle (Levin), 25 September 1946, Page 6

GALE AND HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTH

OAMARU, Sept. 21. A_ north easterly wind reacliing gale foree at times, aceoinpanied by lieavy rain, caused considerable damage in North Otago this' morning. At tlie'port of Oamaru a higli running sea pounded. ihe watorfront" c'ausiug damage to the mole and at Eri'eiidly Bay the pleasui-e launeh Waitaki dragged lier moorings m tlie boat harbour, crashing on to a stone wall in the harbour, being smasliod to niatehwood witli wreckage. strewn 'along the waterfront. In country districts and the town, tences were blown down and tlie power supply iuterrupted through trees faliing aeross lines. The niain highwavs and many country roads were. impassable. to motor traflic, being muler water at low lying points. Tlie Kakanui River rose rapidly causiiig widespread flooding and resulting in heavy loss of stock. At Maheno tlie river inundated the flat eovering ihe highway witli several feet of rusliing torrent whicli carried away 80 shcep from this locality and caused heavy damage to the Maheno Bowling Club's green, paviliou and equipme*t. Tlie river continued to rise during the afternoon, tlie flood waters being backed up by a high tide. At Kakanui township where the , water rose to within a t'ew feet of tlie Kakanui bridge, fears are being entertained for its safcty. At Windsor, Enlield and other paris of tlie Waiareka Valley, also on the Waitaki plains nnd at Duntroon where rhe .Maerewhenua River has overflowed its banks and flooded the mahse, much of the country is under Avater and heavy losses ot' stock are reported. Up to 3 p.m. 268 points of rain were recorded at Oamaru but by 4 o'clock tlie wind hud died down and the rain had abated somewliat. Tlie raihvays, lliougli delaved, continued to operate Imt tlie rail wav bus serviees both north and soutli had to l)e cancelled because of inijtassable roads.