TAIERI FLOODS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 6

TAIERI FLOODS

PROTECTIVE EMBANKMENTS GIVE WAY FARMS AND HOMES STILL BEING EVACUA LED SERIOUS STOCK LOSSES FEARED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 9. There is little change in the Taieri floods today, though two breaks in protective embankments caused extension of the flooded area and a slight fall in the level of the river. Farms and homes continues to be evacuated and reports of stock mortality indicate that losses will be serious. The latest reports tonight from the higher reaches of the Taieri River suggest that the peak has not yet been reached. Henley township is completely marooned, a rapid rise late last night causing almost complete evacuation of residents. All comunication south of Dunedin by road or rail is still stopped and all routes to Central Otago are impassable. There is a light drizzle in the city to--night, but conditions arc improving. ROAD AND RAIL COMMUNICA I lONS DISLOCATED. POSITION IN CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The train control officers received advice last night that there was two feet of waler over the line at Allanton and heavy rain was continuing. It is reported from Waimate that the main south road was blocked to traffic after 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, when the Waihao River, in the highest flood in five years, surrounded the main road bridge over what is usually a dry branch channel. The approaches to the bridge, which was recently remodelled, were undermined. Public Works men attempted in vain to save them with sandbags. There are two detours over the Waihao River at this point, but both roads were impassable. There was also heavy flooding in the Hakataramea area, and two spans of a bridge over Cattle Creek were carried away. Some parts of the Waimale County Council’s crushing plant went down the river, but it ,was thought that the major portion of the equipment had been moved to safety by the men operating it.