HIGHWAYS BLOCKER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1939, Page 6

HIGHWAYS BLOCKER

FLOODS IN MARLBOROUGH DAMAGE AND STOCK LOSSES. DRY SPELL BROKEN AT WRONG TIME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. After running bank-high practically all yesterday, following upon several days of heavy rain in the back country, the Wairau River flooded several areas in the lower parts of the valley last night, when the banks were broken in at least three places. As a result, road communication, with Christchurch and road and rail connection with Picton are blocked. Flooding in the Pelorus and Wakamarina Rivers also blocked the main Nelson Highway, so that for the moment the only surface exit from Blenheim is via Tophouse Road to the West Coast. This route also is uncertain as it is feared that the Branch Bridge, some 40 miles from Blenheim, may be damaged. The Wairau River was running 10 feet 0 inches above normal level, all night and this morning had fallen only two inches. It came down with terrific force yesterday morning and gradually increased until it had reached a stage where old residents claim that it was the highest flood since the disaster of 1923. The railway bridge at Spring Creek I was under water last night and two wash-outs occurred between the bridge and Spring Creek, where the low-ly-ing ground is all inundated. The contractors on the new railway bridge and traffic bridge lost a considerable amount of material, but fortunately both bridges were sufficiently advanced to withstand the strain. The traffic bridge over the Wairau at Renwicktown, on the Blenheim-Nelson Highway also lost some piles and only light traffic is allowed through. On the Nelson side of Havelock there are two blockages on the highway, one live miles from Havelock, where last night. 8 feet of water was over the road, and again at Canvastown. where the flood in the Wakamarina River has resulted in a depth! of three feet over the road. At. Mor-1 rin’s Hollow, on the main Picton High-1 way. there was 10 feet of water all I night and the level is about the samel this morning. It will be easily another day before there will, be any chance of getting through to Picton. The main south road is blocked about four miles south of Blenheim, where the Wairau River backed up the Opawa River, water flowing over the road for a distance of nearly half a mile, in places several feet deep. Stock losses are reported from several parts of the district, mainly at Havelock and Canvastown and in the Rai Valley, bul the full extent is not known. i The floods follow a series of drought years, the rain having broken a prolonged dry spell at a period when liar-j vest prospects are being regarded dubi-l ouslv.