Near Floods Reported From Southland

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1949, Page 6

Near Floods Reported From Southland

INVERCARGILL, April II. The warm weather of Eriday and Saturday which melted the snow on the^ mountain ranges, and heavy rain which fell in the early hours .of Sunday morning, combined to bring many rivers and ereeks in Southland into a .state of flood. "Water topped the banks of rivers and spread across roads in a few places - but Teports this morning. confirm that the levels are dropping steadily and ■ there is not likel'y to be ahy serious flooding." r" Wihton and Gentre f Bush -were the areas affected by the floods but the lOvfel of the Oreti did. not rise to its pealc of last month. At Centre Busu 120 points of rain fell on Sunday morning, causing the river to overflow. Water lay across tKe road this morning although traffie was still able to negotiate the flood; At Winton 18 inches of Water were on the road at 1.30 p.m. today. The river at Lochiel had reached its peak but had not spilled over its banks. The Oreti River at Lumsden rose steadily yesterday - until at 2 p.m. it overflowed. The level this morning was falling steadily. Trafiic was unable to pass through the floods on the LumsdenQueenstown highway at Garston yesterday but this morning vehicles were not stopped by water. It was expected there would be flooding at the iron Bridge this morx^ing but at 12.30 p.m. the Oreti had still to rise 2£ feet before it reached the road. The weather has now improved.- . y. -•