TOWNSHIP IN PERIL

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 10

TOWNSHIP IN PERIL

MENACE OF FLOOD

ANXIETY AT LITTLE RIVER

DESPERATE AVORK

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCH-URCH, This Day. Lake Forsyth is again rising rapidly. A. stream is flowing down the main street at 'Little River, and tho menace of. a big flood hangs over tho township. Its one- hoj>o is that an outlet can be made in the seaward end of Lake Forsyth. AH day yesterday gangs worked,- but to no avail. Today they arc striving desperately to open the lake, -with tho waters steadily rising near them. The peril of the situation was expressed by a settler over the telephone this morning. "The lake is coming up fast," he said. "If they can't let it out we'll Jose everything we've got." ■Streams- of water are pouring down I tho hillsides, and the sou '-wester is banking' up tho lake against the town-1 ship, adding to the- danger. , Damage amounting to several thousi auds of pounds has already been caused in this and adjoining, districts. SEVEN FEET OP DEBRIS. ■ A."Star" reporter who got through to the township today found that, despite .of the danger the people are cheerful, and while a second flood threatens to sweep over their property they were at work clearing away the silt and mud thatvhad been left in thewako of the first flood.' Some conception of the 1 ask,before them can be gathered from tfieL fact that three chains of railway--1; lie near the town are buried seven feet under tons of mud and boulders. Many houses have from two to eight i riches- of covering the floors, and 1 he-furnishings have been damaged. Ironically enough,l some residents at Little-River- ate without water. The Hood tarried away part of the •main from the reservoir, leaving householders -without supplies. • One.^service . car from Christchurch got through to Little River this rnorning;—the first since Friday-..' 1t..-was preceded by a powerful touring car as a pilot.. A telephone , message from Little River 'at 2 p.m. stated that rain, was continuing heavily, and the galo was unabated. The lake was lapping the l oad in front of the township, the position being acute, and evacuation may be imperative in an hour or two. A cheering item, however, -was the arrival fit 1.15 from Kaituna of the first train for three days. It consisted of an engine and a van. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. Tales of the widespread damage were ioid this morning by residents of the valleys in the vicinity of Little River were were communicated with by telephone. ■In the Te Oka Valley the whole Kiulock saddle camo away, damming the creek. Subsequently the dam gave way, releasing the flood water with disastrous results.

of Wainui-across the 'harV - bpur. from 'Aka'roa, had to leave-their homes. -Bridges and roads have been - \tashed .away..by the torrents. . ■> It will be a fortnight before road communication -can be re-'establisTied i'ois some : places. : ' ' ■ la "the-Puaha 'Valley tho swollen •waters- mv the cteek swept away chains i 'of.:fencing,; and many farms are- under ' - water.,'-. --• " .'-.•..•.' .■'•' :....