FLOOD DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1923, Page 1

FLOOD DISASTER.

[by Tl-XEGKAm rEII TRESS ASSOCIATION.] ENORMOUS DAMAGE IN CANTERBURY. LOSS OF LIFE APPREHENDED AT BLENHEIM. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9 The flood waters, are receding in Kaiapoi, and to-day the residents were relieved of much of the anxiety of the previous 48 hours. Though the water lias subsided on the Cam side, access to the houses cannot yet be gained without the aid of boats. Charles Street, where sand-bag protection was erected yesterday to keep hack the waters, is now clear. With an overcast sky to-day, the town hoio a dismal aspect. The parts from which the water had been drained away were covered with silt, driftwood, and debris of all kinds. Most of the houses which were flooded are not habitable yet, and it may be some days before the flood is down sufflSkenLlv to enable iho owners to return. Traffic through quite a number of streets is possible only in drays or boats. Mr Bennett, Superintendent of Telegraphs, stated this morning that there were still no wires to the North Island via the East Coast, hut an improved circuit had been procured from Christchurch via Groymouth, Nelson and Blenheim, direct to Wellington Bv this circuit the Telegraph Office was now enabled to work the Multiplex fast printing machine, which was doing splendid work and was practically coping with all work coming to hand. Things were at normal and would remain so as long as the circuit held up. Hannier Springs, Mr Bennett said, was at the present time absolutely is•olated, so far as telegraphic communication was concerned. The floods have subsided sufficiently between Kaiapoi and Rnngiora to allow drains to run. The Cheviot line >s still in a very had state.

KAIAPOI WOOLLEN MILLS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The damage to the Kaiapoi Woollen Company’s mills was very extensive, and it will l>e some time before the full effect of the flood will be . known. Throughout most of the buildings the depth of the flood water was about two feet. There were over 2000 pairs of blankets in the finishing department, and when the water was at-its highest, it overflowed the tables on which the finishing work was being done, causing considerable damage. A great deal of destruction was caused to stocks of acids and ammonia at flic factory, and much of the machinery will also he seriously affected. LOSSES AT COLDSTREAM. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Some heavy losses have been sustained in the Coldstream district of North Canterbury, where there is scarcely a house that is not surrounded by water. In some instances tilt houses are submerged to a depth of

two foot, t heir occupants having been J removed to safety. With regard to! losses of produce ami live stock. ■' j ianner alto had I’OUO bushels ol gram stacked live sacks high in a shed had the lot surrounded hv water whim caused the sacks to hurst. A wellknown grader between Saltwater Creek and Ashley ltiver had 100 head of cattle washed out to sea, and a Waikuku settler lost .1(1 pigs. At I'laxton a farmer is the loser of 1.10 valuable stud sheep. Considerable damage has also been suffered in .ospect to the potato corps. In a paddock at Coldstream UOll sacks are submerged to a depth of two feet, and m an adjoining paddock a large number of sacks are not visible at all. Large fplantiiics oi’ potatoes arc not vet dug and it is considered that those will ' e no use at all now as they will rot. Owing to the .Municipal gasworks being Hooded, there was no gas available in the Rorough of Rangiora last night, consequently those premises which are not connected with electricity had to fall hack on lamps and candles. SC EXES OE DEVASTATION. CTIIUSTCTfUnCH, May 9. Incredible as it may seem to those outside the locality, the fact remains that from the time rain commenced on Friday morning up to ft a.ill. today, the rainfall in YVaiau Township was 19.75> inches and at ‘•Kanton Combe” the still more phenomenal fall of 30.51 inches. On every hand there are scenes of desolation and ruin. The lower land' •.round AA’aiau township tiro covered wiih silt to a considerable depth. There are masses of debris of every description on the fences, and the trees hear eloquent testimony to the height the flood‘water reached. River flats which for years have been good grazing lands now are barren riverbeds, 1 every vestige of vogtntirm having been swept off. The farmers have come into AVaiau township on horseback, the only means of transit for nnv distance at present, and they till testify to the tremendous alteration in ill.' cnnliguration of the country in the different parts. Hut they all state that hey have not yet had tin opportunity of ascertaining their losses in stock, though all agree that the losses must he heavy.

Xo description in words can convey any :idet|Uate idea of the alterations .n the landscapes. Actual seeing only could convoy a true picture.

On Lyndon Xo 2 settlement, tences have been swept away ill all directions, and small watercourses have become riverbeds. Old watercourses which perhaps -10 years ago carried water in times of flood, but which lor as long as the oldest settler can remember have been dry and in "'hie 1 : cabbage trees and willows have been

growing for many years, have been scoured out, the cabbage trees bail been swept away, willow trees tvo feet in diameter have been torn out by the roots, and a bod of shingle some chains in width remains to give some slight idea of the volumes of water that swept across the country. It niav incidentally be mentioned

that one farm residence stands some 20 feet above a stream, but at the highest range of the flood a rise of another two feet would have brought the water into the house.

HALF KAIAPOI HOMELESS. CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Approximately half the population if Kaiapoi were rendered homeless, but accommodation was found for all. Some splendid work was done by various bands of workers in rescuing people, often at considerable risk. The efforts of these helpers is now being realised when there is time for eonsid-

eration of the events of the past two days. Towards Rnngiora the flood waters | are receding last. At Woodond whole farms are inundated still, and it will take some days for this water to drain off. Forlorn looking groups of stock can be seen clinging to the highest ' points of the farm. The losses A stock have been heavy. MAX AND BOY MISSING. BLENHEIM. May 9. In connection with the Hood, fenrare entertained for the safety of Mi E. E. Robinson, Secretary of the Spring Creek Road Board, and a farm boy. They left Mr Robinson’s farm at Lower AVaii-au last night in a dray Bn- Blenheim. A search party discovered the dray by the roadside in deep water, and the horses roaming free with broken harness. Subsequently a vest, presumably worn by Robinson’s companion, was found, but nn signs of the missing ones have been discovered. (:REAT DE.STRUCTIOX. BLENHEIM, May 9. Some of the grain and produce stores have been invaded by the flood with serious results. Thousands of bushels of peas, seeds, and grain arc- irretrievably ruined, and much loss has also been occasioned by saturation of hales of wool. In one ease 20 tons of sugar literally melted away. One dealer in produce estimates his loss at £IOOO The railway line at Spring Creek is severely damaged. The permanent way is washed out to a distance of 100 yards, and the damage done to roads and bridges throughout the province is enormous. The Blenheim-Kaikoura road is impassable. Tine approaches to the TJre Bridge are washed away. Tt is reported that Flaxbourne Bridge has gone. Two spans of Clarence Bridge and two cylinders have been carried away. Telegraphic lines are gone, breaking the communication between tlio two islands.