OTAGO DELUGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 144, 8 September 1927, Page 14

OTAGO DELUGED

TOWN UNDER SIXJEET OF WATER ROADS AND RAILWAYS SUFFER THE heaviest rain experienced for more than 20 years Otago between 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. yesterday. Streets at Lawrence were inundated to a depth of five or six; feet and great damage to business premises resulted. The rainfall for 12 hours was 3.58 inches.

Press Association. DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Light rain set in early yesterday afternoon, and as night came on it settled into a heavy downpour, which contifiued without cessation throughout the night and this morning, hut the clouds broke shortly after midday and this evening is beautifully fine. According to a message received from Lawrence, the flood in that township is the worst in its history. Heavy rain fell continuously from early on Monday morning to late last night, and, as a result, Weathers toue's Creek, which is at the back of the main street, became a raging torrent. Swirling water pounded away at the railway embankment, 50 yards being washed away. The streets of the town were soon covered with between five and six feet of water.

STOCK MOVED TO COUNTERS Early in the afternoon business people, anticipating a watery visitation, removed as much of their stock as possible to the counters, but at the height the flood attained even these were awash, a great deal ol’ damage resulting. The businesses most afi’ected were those with premises on Ross Place, which is the main thoroughfare of the town. It was impossible to estimate the full extent of the damage. There were many narrow escapes from drowning, but fortunately those in the flooded areas were removed to safety by means of a fleet of motorlorries, all the vehicles in the town being requisitioned for the purpose.

FT RE BELL WARNING The firebell was rung at 10 p.m. yesterday to warn shopkeepers and residents, but the majority had removed to what they thought a safe height, but they did not anticipate such a heavy inrush of water. All business is at a standstill, and the shops were unapproachable at

noon to-day. The Bank of New Zealand had three feet of water in the building. The train services on this line are dislocated owing to several washouts. At 3 p.m. the flood water had subsided. The whole of the street presents a sorry appearance, there being silt several inches deep on the roadway. On the north side of the street the silt is from two to three inches deep in some of the dwelling houses.