FLOOD DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1925, Page 1

FLOOD DAMAGE

FEARS IN CANTERBURY. (BY TELEGRAPH — PER VitKSS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. July 2. In consequence of to-day's warm rains melting the snow, there are fears of heavy Hoods in the Canterbury rivers. Already tin- Eyre River has overllowed its banks and the country round Oxford ami ('list is flooded. A telegram from Kaikoura states that the approach to the Hnpuka River bridge was washed away to-day. The Sloney Creek is in Hood, and traffic south was blocked this morning. Tlie l.yoll Creek has been rising rapidly, but so far it bas not entered the town of Kaikoura.

A very heavy sea is running on the coast, which has the effect of hacking up the rivers. Little River was under water to-day, and road communication with Akaroa is cut i.>fl'. The Ashley River, previously in half Hood, rose sixteen inches this morning, and the residents in the Coldstream district arc apprehensive of a serious overflow over their farms. TELEGRAPHIC INTERRUPTION GREYAIOUTH, July 3. Owing to the severity of the weather on the other side of the range, telegraphic commmiical ion has been interrupted. only one line, being available he I ween Christchurch and Grcymouth. Work at the Lake Coleridge contract has been suspended as the result ol tho heavy snowstorms experienced in Canterbury. On Wednesday, there was two feet ot snow at Lake Coleridge, hut rain It'll on Wednesday night, and ii is expected that work will be resumed early next week. A (tarty of Most Coasters from the Lake Coleridge works arrived in Greymonth lasi night. WIDESPREAD OTAGO FLOODS. DUNEIHN. duly 2. All streams of the Taieri watershed are rising rapidly after heavy rain. Snow is melting up country. II tho juvvpm \vo:ttfk‘r eomlil ions continue*, tin* position will lx* serious bv tonight . Rain 101 l steadily all day to-day increasing; in intensity as the allenioon wore on. The Runedin-Ranlurly line, which was blocked yesterday owing Io slips and 1 :illl'll rock, near Alount Allan. is still closed, and to-day s trains wore deviated past the obstruction. The goods train from Ratifurly to Dunedin, which ran into a lallcn rock last evening, has not yet. been removed, hut, (he line is expected io he clear bv

noon to-morrow. The two engines on lids train were badlv damaged, and eight trucks, including a wagon load of slice]), were derailed. An engine breakdown gang left to-day for the scene of the accident. Word was received this afternoon that it, washout had occurred near Outram. ami that, about half a mile of the line was scoured out. the water'rn-ing nine inches deep on the track. Consequently, one train inwards from Outram and one outwards Horn Alosgim were cut out.

TATKUI PLAIN' FLOODED. DUNEDIN, July 2. The position on the Taieri is fairly serious, and if tlie river rises two 01 Hi roe more feet there will he real danger. Tlie embankment is Isoing patrolled. and telegraph eonimiiiiicatioii is being kept open at night. The river is at the loft. Sin. mark. The low-lying country in the vicinity of Merton is flooded, and the creeks ill Shag Valley have been washed out. making the Otago Central road impassable. Heavy rain fell all night at Nasehy. following a fall of nine inches of snow. The creeks and river are in flood. Swinhurn bridge on tlie DnnbaekKvehnrn portion of the main Paliner-ston-C'ldye road, was swept away. The weather has been stormy at Crum well, but it is now improving, although it is not settled. In Wakatipu district, the temperalure rose suddenly, and consequently a ..•rent thaw set in. Yesterday it was a white world, but in the morning every hit of snow had disappeared. Tho weather is now like spring. ’WAIKATO IN FLOOD. AUCKLAND. July 2. The latest advices front Mercer tonight stated the "Waikato River is still risng. The township of Mercer is now almost surrounded hv water, with six inches over the railway line. Numerous houses in the vicinity of tit etownship have I -ceil vacated. The sawmills are flooded. Tlie trams are still running., hut shunting operations may close n any i'urthor rise occurs. The Maoris bare abandoned one flooded l»a on the river hanks, and are in'.,v camping in tlie scrub. Even when the Hood subsides it will lie some considerable time before the sawmills can restart work. NAPIER, July 2. The return of fine weather has ended the anxiety regarding floods. Too rivers are abnormally high, but good mouths are permitting a maximum discharge. thus saving the town and district.