PHENOMENAL RAINFALL

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1923, Page 1

PHENOMENAL RAINFALL

HEAVY FLOODS. [ny TELKCRATII —TER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] BLENHEIM, May 7. Two to three feet of water was all over the business area of Blenheim at 12.30 p.m. and many shops are under water. Boats are being used to rescue residents in the low lying areas. The slop hanks are still holding but the livers are still rising and the rain continues. The outlook is very serious. BLENHEIM, May 7. The Wairau river is higher than ever before. Reports from a branch near the source indicate it will rise still higher. The Hood has reached Langleydalc. At Marlboroughtown there was the heaviest rain for ’twenty-eight years. Mahakipawa reports the most serious Hood ever known. Grove, Mahal.qiawa and Havelock roads are under wal'T. All bridges were swept away, trees have been uprooted and chimneys blown down by a terrific gale. Part of Springlands, a suburb of Blenheim, is under water, which is still rising. RAIN IN CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. A good deal of surface flooding occurred in the city and suburbs, blit there was nothing serious. The rainfall for 2-1 hours to 9.30 a.m. was 3.39(i inches, a record since the Magnetic Observatory was established twenty-one yea is ago. The previous best record was 3.237, established on January 26th. of this year. A very high tide threatens damage at Brighton. An unusual fire was caused in Linwood by -no Hood water reaching unslaked lime at a builder’s house. The Tees from the Chathams wap due at Lylelton last night, but up to 9 a.iii. had not been sighted.

CANTERBURY FLOODED. RAILWAY SERVICES DISORGANISED. CHRISTCHURCH, May r. I'lie wetness of the year so far may be judged from the total rainfall figures to date, which are this year 15.587 inches; last year, G.255in. This year’s rainfall to date is already over three-fifths of the average total annual rainfall for the last 40 years. Telegraphic communication with the North Island was completely cut off ibis morning, oven ilio West Coast route being out of action. 'Pbe railway service in North Canterbury was completely disorganised ’beyond Rangiora owing to slips and washouts, while there was dislocation on the West Coast line. Considerable surface flooding occurred in the city and suburbs, but the damage was not extensive.

The rain resulted in the most extensive and disastrous flood in North Canterbury since the great flood oi 1 sii'L This morning people rose to find the rivers running bank high and flooding the lmv-iying country with water in some places to a depth ol four feet.

All the low-lying parts of Kuiapoi are under water, and in some eases water entered the houses. The Eyre River rose during the night and overfirmed its hanks in several places, Hooding Clarke vide. The main drain at Fluxion also overflowed, flood waters covering most of the land between Fluxion and the Cam River, the farmers finding it necessary to remove their stock.

Rangiora gas works are flooded, and the fires are out. There is only one night’s supply of gas in the holders. The main streets of the town of Rangiora are more or less under water, t! footpaths being covered up to the shop, fronts.

Conditions in Ainherley are very had the township being Hooded to a considerable depth. The water is over the crown of the main street to :

depth of two feet, and business places and private houses are Hooded, there being three and a hall icet ot uatei in the Railway Hotel. All the lowlying land is inundated.

Further north from Ainherley the conditions are reported to he serious. There is a heavy Hood in the Kowai River, which burst its banks at LciUilield, and the water is rushing through the town this morning.

Along the main north road, which is impassable, a number of houses were inundated.

Ai Cheviot since Friday up till eight o’clock this morning 10..Vl inches o' rain had fallen, and from eight a.m. on Sunday til! eight a.in. to-day B.Jo inches fell. All roads in the districts are impassable. The bridge at the mouth of the Murutiui River erected a few years ago by the Cheviot County Council, was swept out to sea. It connected parts ol the f hoviot ami Stonyhurst estates. Tlurunui river is in flood, the highest in 30 years. The water has entered some houses on the low-lying areas.

The floods and washouts have seriously interrupted the railway services in North Canterbury. No trains were run north of Rangiora this morning. Ret ween Ralcairn and Srfton the line is under water, and is damaged at three places, ami between Ambcrley and AVaipara the line is flooded and undermined at a number of places, rendering it unsafe for traffic. The country around Culverden is flooded, the station yard being under water. On the Alidlaiul lino a wash-out occurred on the Christchurch side of Springfield, which prevented ihe morning train leaving Springfield for Christchurch. A big slip also oecurreo beyond Springfield, and the Vest Coast train may lie unable to run tomorrow. •

In Aniberley business houses were barricaded with sand hags at doorways, lmt the water triumphed and entered almost all the business places, some to a depth of two feet. ITcavv losses of stock are reported. Tn Vi'aiau districts 9..70 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. AVaiau River is in heavy flood, but at- present no accurate details as to the amount of the damage, which must he considerable, can he obtained. The Cam Hairy Factory at Rangiora is out of commission, there being 18 inches of water in the building. Schultz and family in Bridge House at AVaiau hail to he rescued. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7.

No trains are likely to get through to Arthur’s Pass before the end of the week, but trains will be able to run to and from Springfield. The Southbridgc line is also interrupted. The south-west side of Rangiora has suffered considerably, the water rushing down John Street like a river. Houses were soon surrounded, and in many cases it is impossible to get in or out of them. Fortunately the rain eased this afternoon, and the water began to subside, averting a great amount of damage. It is still

raining throughout Canterbury tonight,"but the fall is light compared with the previous 21 hours. POST OFFICE REPORTS. FLOOD AND DEVASTATION. WELLINGTON, May 7. The Secretary of the G.P.O. has receive dthe following telegram from the Chief Postmaster at Christchurch : “Owing to heavy rain since Friday, part of North Canterbury is reported to be flooded. • “The Postmasters at Cheviot and Waiau report that owing Co Hooded rivers the mail cars will be unable to get through. “The postmaster at Ainherley reports that Ainherley township is flooded and the surrounding country under water. The post office is surrounded by the Hood, but the water lias not entered the office. A large number of business and private residences are Hooded from three to eighteen inches. There are railway washouts north and south of Amberly. and the Kowai River is in Hood.

“The postmaster at Leithfield reports that the Kowhai River lias broken through its hanks and is rushing through the township and over the Main North Road, which is impassable. “The Superintendent of Telegraphs advises that telegraph communication is totally interrupted north of Knikoura and west of Dnrfield.

“Tt is still raining heavily in North Canterbury, and the Railway Department advises that no trains are running beyond Rangiora.

“The postmaster at Rangiora imports that the Rangiora-White "lock mail service is suspended, as Ashley River is impassable. The Oxford brunch train service is being maintained, but lit is doubtful if trains will get right through. It was still raining heavily at 10.30 a.in.

“Duvauehelles reports that the Eastern Bays mail contractor is held up owing to washouts. “The postmaster at Rakain reports similarly regarding Rakaia-Highbank and Rakaia-Dorie services.

“A telegram from the Chief Postmaster at Blenheim to the Secretary ol the G.P.O. at 12.50 p.m. reported that the town was completely under water. Another telegram at 3 p.m. intimated that the water was now flowing through the Government Buildings, with two feet of water in the departmental quarters. It is raining heavily, and the water is still rising.”

WELLINGTON WEATHER. WELLINGTON, May 7. The rainfall in Wellington was heaviest yesterday, but only 2] inches were recorded for 48 hours, and merely light rain lias fallen to-day. No damage is reported in the city, but at Eastbourne across the harbour, swollen streams gave, trouble in. conjunction with the high tide and’ waves caused much erosion in front of the new Recreation Grounds wheic some buildings are threatened 1 and the ground itself on which much money was lately spent, is in danger of injury. The Hntt river is in heavy Hood, but no damage is reported beyond a pile-driving punt being stranded. Two employees on beard had a narrow escape.