TAIERI IN FLOOD

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 6

TAIERI IN FLOOD

RAPID WEEK-END MSE VAST EXTENT OF LAND UNDER WATER OUTRAM-MOBGIEL TRAIN SERVICE SUSPENDED Mild weather has caused a hasty thaw of the vast fields of snow on the 'Central Otago " Hills the last few days, and as a result the Taieri River started to rise on Friday night. It reached its highest flood level for some time yesterday, when, roads and extensive areas of paddocks, particularly in the low-lying areas about Riverside, were inundated. ; -

This morning the train from Outram to Mosgiel was unable to get through, there being 30in of water on the railway line at Riverside. It was not' expected that there would be any train service to Outram to-day. The river rose steadily from Friday night, and early yesterday morning it was lapping over the road at the Outram bridge, while other-parts of the road were also encroached! upon. Later in the day this water receded, as. the river started to fall. ' • At Riverside the full brunt of the flood was felt, the river spreading itself over the low-lying countryside, and inundating about 2,000 acres. In many places this water reached a depth where the tops of the fences were submerged. In conversation’ with a farmer in the ayea this morning, the ‘ Star ’ learnt that this. particular district has been subject to spells of flooding at various times during the last two months. The river has been rising and falling with almost a regularity since the heavy spows began, but the.rise this:week-end had been greater than anything tor some considerable time. Many farms are completely isolated, and the farmers have to move about in boats. A few homesteads were invaded by the water yesterday, but there are not many houses built on this part of the-plain. No loss of stock is anticipated, bub the land will be rendered useless for some time to come. •

At the rate the river was falling it was expected that it would be back to nearly normal to-morrow morning, but most of the water lying about the paddocks will not disappaer for a considerable while, as it will have to depend upon soakage and evaporation fW a clearance, and as the soil is thoroughly soaked now, it seems as if heat and drying winds will have to bo depended upon as the main cause of removal.

So far as can be gathered, no great trouble has been experienced in districts below Riverside, although ' paddocks near to the river itself nave all been invaded by water. It. is understood there is a fair amount lying im the lower areas around Otokia,