GREYMOUTH FLOODED

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1931, Page 6

GREYMOUTH FLOODED

MANY HOUSES INVADED. SAWYER’S CREEK OVERFLOWS. Quite film most remarkable Hooding experienced within the limits of the borough of Gi'eymoutli for years past was that which last night suddenly resulted from the very heavy rainfall yesterday and later in the evening. The change.of the weather to northwesterly brought showers in the morning. and before noon a severe downpour set in. During the afternoon it continued with short intermissions, and became after dark even heavier. The precipitation appears to have been greatest on the hills adjacent to the town, which shed the water into the | residential areas, on either side of the river, and so great: was the rush of water that the drainage facilities proved quite unequal to the task ol carrying the water to the lagoon and tlm river, ’film result was that many streets wo*re flooded and in particular those nearest the. kills,. .Sawyer’s Creek rising a foot in about a quarter of an hour, and eventually creating a lake along Afarsden Road to tlm eastward lof Shakespeare Street. Up tlm country the. rainfall was -light, yesterday, but it began To pour last night. The residents up -the Grey Valley, however. did not last night anticipate flooding, if any before daylight this morning. Tlm river did not rise to any extent last night, and the only anxiety in the business section was as to whether the drains and mains would be eventually equal to their task before the worst was past. Off the bill east of the town about 8 p.m., water was being shed in enormous quantity, and the volume increased fur more than a couple of hours. lu town the effect was tioie i when the main in Tainui .Street near the Grey .Motors building showed itself overtaxed by the water forcing t:p the iron cover, and a rush of uirty coloured liquid gushed out to a height of over a foot. This continued lor hours, and the Water soon flooded the vicinity, entering Revingtoii’s Hotel where it -rose eventually to a height of about a foot throughout the ground floor. It also inundated Wliall Street, bouses tlmrtj Wing invaded. Tlm low lying part of the town was indicated in the direction ol the Bark by the presence of water lo a depth of 1.8, inches in Albert Street and also a sheet, of water right across Leonard Street., while tlm ion! path margin was invaded in Alaekay Street on the Town Hall side. The main which, empties at the back of Elmer Lane was early running full-bore, and was obviously not carrying away anything like the quantity of water accumulating higher up in tlm streets near tlm bills. There was a miuaturc river coming along Rlackmore and .Murray Streets, while further north, tlm descent of water off tlm high lands was so great that it entered houses. To. the south, tlm drainage into Sawyer’s Greek was greater than many residents remembered to have ever seen it before. •