FLOODS RECEDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1941, Page 6

FLOODS RECEDING

IMPROVEMENT IN CANTERBURY FAMILIES MAROONED. SEVERAL RESCUES EFFECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU. March 19. Large areas in South Canterbury were inundated by flood waters today, but the weather broke late this afternoon and the rain ceased, after which the waters receded rapidly. This was practically the first break in the weather in five days, the average fall throughout the district being over six inches. At Orarl Gorge the total was lit- inches, the highest for 30 years. The heaviest falls were in the hills, and when the water reached the flats few areas escaped. • Considering the great amount of water, the damage was surprisingly light and stock losses are not likely to be heavy. Several families had to be evacuated, one at Epworth being marooned nine hours. The police received a call to rescue a woman and four children as water was flowing through the house. An attempt was made to reach the house by Mr S. Oliver, at 2 o'clock in the morning, but the water reached the saddle of the horse and the attempt had to be abandoned. It was not till 11 o'clock that Mr Oliver reached the house, when he found the. children standing on the table and the mother sitting on the sewing machine with the water lapping her arms. Mr Oliver took a child on the saddle, a suitcase on the front and had to swim the horse to dry land. He made five hazardous trips. At Opihi women and children had to be rescued in boats and canoes at midnight. Some business men in Temuka township are likely to suffer loss through stock being partly submerged. Service buses are able to get through the main north road, but cars are blocked.