BIG FLOODS IN SOUTH ISLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2238, 9 July 1908, Page 3

BIG FLOODS IN SOUTH ISLAND.

ALL RIVERS OVERFLOWING.

TRAINS SNOWED UP

DUNEDIN’S ELECTRIC POWER CUT OFF.

[Press Association.] DUNEDIN, July 8. Heavy rain continued all last night, with little interruption to-day. No damage has been dono to tlio city by floods, but tho low-lying paddocks 'in tho suburbs on tho flat are submerged. Tho Drainage Board’s pumping station at Musselburgh was kept going all to-day at high pressure. , A wash-out along tho railway lino occurred at Shag Point last night, and so many wash-outs have occurred along tho Otago Central that traffic was suspended. - At noon, on tho Outram branch, tho bridgo across tho Silvorstream shifted, and tlio river has flooded tho lino, Yvhich is impassable. Owing to tho lino being submerged for a distance of three miles near Allan ton, the express trains from South could not got through. Tho engines Avero stabled at Milton, wlioro tho passengers ivoro detrained. After leaving Clydo tho 8.55 a.m. train was lost, nml as tho wires wero down beyond Hyde, it could not bo heard of for a time. It was ovontually found near Rough llidge, and returned to Clyde. A' goods train was snowed up at Wcdderburn,but managed to reach Rough Ridge. The 8.45 a.m. from Dunedin with great difficulty reached Hyde, and remained thero overnight. The 11.55 a.m. from Dunedin to Otar go Central was cancelled. Tho Taieri is badly flooded, and tho Taieri river is said to bo higher than it has ever been since tho flood of 1878. - . ■

Tho Silvcrstream is overflowing its banks. Some of its bridges are already wrecked and tho neighboring land is submerged to some feet. No loss to stock is reported so far. The residents state that there is more water about than has been scon- for five years. At Berwick the river rose 6ft between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. All rivers are rising rapidly.The Railway Department reports no accidents to life or rolling stock. Advices-from Nasob.v state that the snow is 4ft deep there, and is still falling. This afternon snow S inches deep fell at Arrowtown, and 20 inches at St. Bat bans, and at Alexandra and Cromwell snow lias given way to rain, which has been falling heavily all day. If a warm rain follows the snow there is every probability of a big flood.

At. Wnipiata the river is in very high flood, and is still rising. At Tapanui the rainfall was a record for ten years, 3J inches falling in a few hours.

At Lawrence and Waipori the rainfall was very heavy. Another break in the Waipori fluming took place this afternoon, cutting off the electric power from Dunedin. It is not expected to be repaired till Monday. The trams were delayed for nearly an hour, but are now running on the steam plant. Latest advices stato that the trains that _l-'ft Clyde and Omakuu this morning wero snowed up fast near Wedderburn. To-night at 9.30 the water was eight inches deep on the, floor of the Allan ton railway station. Land slips occurred on the Upper and Lower Port'Chalmers lines, close to the tunnels, but the last trnin from Oamaru got as far as Upper Port Chalmers. Horses and cattle are standing knee deep in • water at East Taieri, and serious losses of cuttle and horses have been sustained by Mr. W. Shand. Several poles of the new Waipori electric pole line hav“ V-een washed out. - •. _ _ ' ' The Taieri River is still rising, and tho streets in Wnipiata arc under water. CANTERBURY MAILS DELAYED. TELEGRAPH WIRES DOWN. [Press Association.] ! CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. After /in almost continuous downpour for the greater part of two days, the' rain ceased temporarily early last evening, and hopes were entertained that the city was to enjoy a spoil of . dry weather, however brief. There wero u few very slight showers during the night, and in the early morning the sky cleared, but rain began to fall again at 1 a.m., iiiid continued intermittently throughout tho day. The rainfall recorded at the Observatory for the 24 hours ending tit 1.30 a.m. to-day was 1.G07 inches, and from 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to-day .172 inches had been recorded.

Owing to Hoods on the railway line between Thnaru and Glenary, no mails'will reach Christchurch from offices south of Timaru.,

Direct telegraphic communication with the North Island is still seriouslv interrupted, and it -inlay be some days before the wires are restored. There is a breakdown between Waiau and ilvaikoura, and it is reported that a length of about seven miles is affected. Mr. Shrimpton, city electrician, with a repair gang, left this morning for Waiau, but it is doubtful whether they can reach the scene of the interruption before nightfall. In the meantime all- messages for the North Island are being sent over two wires t 0 Grcymouth, and thoncc via Blenheim to Wellington. One,wire is duplex and the other triplex, which allows five machines to be used- The staff aro doing their utmost to keep pace witli demands with the limited facilities at their disposal.

“A SEA OF WATER,’'

TRAIN SERVICES DISCONTINUED;

OAMARU, July S. The rain his partially ceased, and the evening train got through from Dunedin up to time. , Seven inches of vain fell 10 miles inland from Oamnru in 24 hours. All the train services inland and north are discontinued. A representative of the “North Otago Times,” who travelled through from Palmerston, says the Shag. Viiljey is a sea of water, and if the rain does not cease there somo of tho settlors wild have to be removed in boats. On the Kakamii. the flat is covered with water, and Ci l l rk's mill has four feet of water in it.. No communication lias been received as to tho extent of the snowfall in the hack, country, but it is not supposed to iiavo . been excessively heavy.