HEAVY FLOODS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1932, Page 5

HEAVY FLOODS

IN S. CANTERBURY

DISORGANISATION OF SERVICE

ißy 'J'eleyruph —Per Press Association •,

TIMARU, May 11

Not for many years has South Canterbury experienced such heavy rain as that which has fallen during the past /twenty-four hours up till live o'clock to-night. The fall in some districts has '>■ - c-oded six inches, the greater pari of this being recorded .befor nine. this morning.

Coming so closely on top of the severe drenching that the countryside received in February, the rain caused further extensive flooding. , D .nri"i ' which escaped the last flood were in undated this time, extensive damage being done to fences. .So far no loss of stock has been reported. The Mackenzie Country missed th A greater part of the rain, but it Vs suffered a severe snowstorm, the fall in Fairlie township during the ni ;ht being eighteen inches. A similar amount fell at The Hermitage, and two feet fell at Tekapo.

The power and telephone linos were brought down all over the district. There were vast stretches of surface water, but this quickly subsided. In an hour or so the creeks were transformed into raging torrents, flooding the surrounding country to a depth of several feet ■Road communication north an.] south of T'imaru was cut off this morning, but ears got through from Ire north to-night.

■ The main railway line is not so far affected, out the Pareora budge ?s causing some, concern.

DAMAGE IN TARANAKI

NEW PLYMOUTH, May 11

A severe thunderstorm, accompanied by extraordinarily heavy rain and hail’, passed over New Plymouth in the early hours of this morning. A water main at Mangorei was struck by lightning, a great hole being torn in the steel pipe, .seriously restricting the water supply. A thunderbolt tore a deep hole in a garden at Mangorei within a few feet of a house.

There are heavy seas on the const, but tlie liners Rotorua and Raramri., and the coastal and small craft, :</k out the storm comfortably in the harbour