HEAVY RAIN IN OTAGO.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1917, Page 5

HEAVY RAIN IN OTAGO.

SERIOUS FLOODS FEARED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. Rain, which commenced on Tuesday evening, appears to have been general throughout south Otago and Southland, but was heaviest close to Dunedin and in the high country, particularly about central Otago. The rainfall at thft Leith watershed was unusually heavy, 3% inches being registered till T o'clock this evening. Serious floods are apprehended in. Taieri; although present conditions are not so serious as those ' irevailing in Slav. A very serious position is threatened in the Otolcia. In the Henley district the river has only to rise about .nine inches to overflow its temporary bank, and as the tide will rise threiifeet before midnight, danger is apprehended. The trouble is accentuated by the Taieri river pouring in a large volume of water from central Otago. Throughout the Taieri district the roads are submerged, bridge approaches have been washed away, and communication is completely cut off between Mosgiol and Outram. Xear Clarksville the -Main South Road is submerged to a depth of four feet., and at. Stirling men have been engaged since early morning repairing the breach caused by the May Hood, in an endeavor to prevent a recurrence of the damage done. The Molyneaux river, which was unusually high during the past few days owing to the melting snow in the lakes district, rose rapidly, and at 5 p.m. was 15 feet above the normal. Reports from higher up the river state that there have been very heavy rains and that the river is rapidly rising. 'Halclutha is threatened, but hopes are entertained that the fall in temperature will lessen the danger. Stock-owners promptly relieved stock from all the threatened iland, and no losses are recorded. At 10.30 rain was still falling heavily, and if it is general up the country, the Taieri 'and Tokomairiro plains and Clutha flat are likely to suffer severely.