FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 128, 17 October 1912, Page 8

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

EXCEPTIONAL RAINFALL . j GREAT LOSS OP STOCK. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gore, Wednesday. Heavy rain has been falling all over the district since Monday night. The creeks and rivers are in flood. The Mataura River is running higher than for years, and is still rising. This morning there was a washout on the railway at Josephville (below Lumsden), and the Athol-Kingston train is likely to be delayed for a few hours. The mild rain is the cause of a lot of snow coming down the Mataura River. Invercargill, Wednesday. As the result of the continuous heavy rains, the' rivers are in high Hood. A washout on the Otautau line interrupted railway communication. A continuous stream of logs and trees is being carried down the Waiau River. Wire ropes holding pontoons on which the engine used in bridge construction was placed, snapped, and the pontoons were carried to sea. The country about Lumsden resembles an enormous lake, and several houses have been invaded. Hundreds of sheep are floating about, I and stock losses will be heavy.

A SERIOUS POSITION. Dunedin. Last Night. Heavy rain has fallen in the city almost incessantly since early on Tuesday morning. Advices from Central and South Otago state that the conditions are very bad there. At Queenstown a creek running through the town was' flooded, and the gardens in the vicinity suffered severely. Lake Wakatipu had risen 2ft. Sin. since Monday night, but! a further rise is not expected. Almost four inches of rain fell in 24 hours. The new Lower Shotover Bridge, near Arrowtown, was badly damaged. A pier collapsed, taking "with it a span of the bridge. All the woodwork under the bridge and an engine employed on the work have been washed away. At Alexandra the river is 22 feet above normal, J the highest rise since 187 S. The main i road between Lawrence and Roxburgh I has been swep*t away below Miller's Flat, and coach traffic is being run on the ' eastern side of the river, but this road is subject to slips, and the coach may not be able to get through. At Balclutha the river was ten feet above normal at 4 o'clock this afternoon, and at 7 p.m. it was 11 feet above normal, but since then it has been stationary. No danger is anticipated unless the river rises another three feet. Latest advices from Alexandra state that the river was 23 feet above normal,, and rain was still falling, Invercargill, Last Night. Rain ceased this afternoon, but the weather is still dull and threatening, and it is anticipated that the rivers will be heavily flooded to-morrow. The New river is three miles wide at Lady Barkly, and a very large area is inundated. The outlook for farmers is distinctly discouraging.