FLOODS IN SOUTH

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 7

FLOODS IN SOUTH

RAILWAY BLOCKED BRIDGE BADLY SMASHED OVER 300 SHEEP DROWNED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday Heavy rain in the watershed above Springfield brought down slips and washouts this afternoon along the railway line between Christchurch and the West Coast. The line is now blocked and this evening the railway authorities were unable to give any definite indication as to when it would be available again for through traffic. One huge slip 600 yards long came down near the Staircase, nine miles from Springfield. Another crashed down on to a small bridge between the No. 3 and No. 4 tunnel, not very far from Springfield, smashing two spans of the bridge. One span has disappeared and the other is hanging in mid-air. An express from Greymouth due along this span of line not much later was halted and ultimately sent back to Greymouth, it being impossible to transport passengers by motor-bus, as the only road available over Porter’s Pass was also blocked. Tons of Debris on Line A slip between the Staircase and Kowhai blocked the mouth of a railway tunnel. Later more material started to come down, and it will not be known until gangs of workmen sent up today have moved thousands of tons of debris whether the line itself has been swept away. The workmen have two slips to clear away before they get to the broken bridge. It was still raining in the Springfield area this evening, and indications were that the workmen sent up to deal with the trouble would have an unenviable time. Fully equipped breakdown trains have been sent up. The north line near Culverden was under water for a long stretch today and goods trains were unable to get through. The South Island Main Trunk line was not seriously affected. Some huge boulders came down in the Hawkswood cutting, but these were soon shifted. Marooned on Haystack Marooned on a haystack in the middle of raging flood waters from the Ashley River, a young farmer, Mr .Arthur Wyllie, watched the water rise at a rate of 3ft an hour while he waited for a boat to rescue him this afternoon. He was on the north bank of the river, and on the south bank at the same time an elderly woman, Miss M. Leggett, took refuge in the upper storey of her home, the lower floor of which was more than waist weep in water. Mr Wyllie was rescued about 5.30 p.m. and Miss Leggatt about half an hour later. Both had been isolated, by the flood for about two and a-half hours. When the flood in the Ashley began to reach dangerous proportions in the early afternoon, Mr Wyllie set out with his two dogs to shift 300 ewes and lambs from the lower paddocks of the farm of his father, Mr James Wyllie. The flood waters rose so fast, however, that he reached the paddocks only in time to see the sheep being washed away. Rescued by Boat I saw them bobbing about in the water like ducks,” said Mr Wyllie. “ 'They were all being carried off to sea.” It was impossible to make any attempt to save the sheep, for the waters were rising all the time. Then Mr Wyllie realised that his own position was dangerous. He could not make his way back to his home, because that involved crossing the main stream of the flood waters. Fortunately his plight was noticed from -i biidge about 500 yards away. A boat was brought from Kaiapoi and Mr Wyllie was rescued.

TIMARU EXPERIENCES

OVER sin. OF RAIN FALLS (By Telegraph.—press Association) TIMARU, Tuesday After a prolonged dry spell, which threatened to become serious for farmers, who have been handicapped in autumn sowing of crops, the weather broke in South Canterbury an Saturday, since when the rain has been almost continuous. In some parts of the district over sin. have been recorded. Rivers are all running high and as rain is still falling general flooding is imminent. The Pareora broke its southern bank this afternoon, flooding a considerable area. Sheep had to be rescued on horseback, as the water was 4ft. deep in parts. The Waratah station, in the Albury district, is isolated by road, and a small bridge was washed away in the Geraldine area. In Timaru and along the coast the fall has not been so heavy, although up to tonight 2.40in. had been recorded. A Union Airways’ liner which ianded at Timaru yesterday on the trip to Dunedin owing to heavy rain stayed the night, the passengers going on by road. Although the airport was heavy, the liner was able to take off on the return north this morning. Road services are running late tonight, but no reports of washouts or serious hold-ups have been received.