TRAIL OF FLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 8

TRAIL OF FLOOD.

CANTERBURY HAVOC. EIGHTY SHEEP DROWNED. LATEST REPORTS ALARMING. (By Telegraph.—Special to' "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this clay. As the result of the torrential rain over the whole of the province, which caused flooding in many parts of Canterbury on Saturday, road and rail communication with Little River was cut off, roads and bridges were destroyed, water ran through many houses, and heavy losses of stock occurred. The Heathcote River, Christchurch, flooded all low-lying land from Beckenham to Woolston, and though the position was alarming at Radley water did not enter any houses. The River Avon overflowed in its lower reaches. Little River had one of the worst floods in living memory. After a solid downpour lasting five hours the stream running through the township burst its banks early on Saturday morning, and the flood rose with alarming rapidity. Numerous slips occurred on the road between Kaituna and Little River, and land in between is still flooded. Cii Mr. W. F. Parkinson's property at Price's Valley, just past Kaituna, at least 80 sheep were drowned and four bridges in the valley which cost £1000 to erect two years ago, were demolished. At Little River yesterday, the stockyards were piled high with debris which had been brought down with smashing force. Logs and stumps were thrown in all directions. The families of Messrs. A. Dawber, J. Keenan, W. Eout, J. Mould, J. Brietmeyer, F. Ferris and C. Withers had to leave their homes on Saturday owing to flood. At the height of the flood there was Bin of water in Elliott's store near the railway station, and the family was confined to the upstairs portion of the building. The post office was flooded and officials- worked barefooted. The telephone exchange was kept open all night, and one member of the staff worked for 20 hours without a break. Several homesteads situated in the valleys running back into the hills beyond Little River are completely cut off from communication by road. Workmen Strive Desperately. Lake Forsyth is again rising rapidly, and a stream is flowing down the main street of Little River township, so that the menace of a big flood hange over the district. Its one hope is that an outlet can be made at the seaward end of Lake Forsyth. All day yesterday gange of men were working, but to no avail. To-day they are striving desperately to open the lake, with the water steadily rising near them. The peril of the situation was expressed by a settler over the telephone thie morning , . "The lake is coming up fast," he said. "If they can't let it out we'll lose everything we've got." Streams of water are pouring down the hillsides, and the sou'-weeter is banking np the lake against the township. Damage amounting to several thousands of pounds has already been caused in this and adjoining districts. A "Star*' reporter who got through to the township to-day found that despite the danger people of Little River are cheerful, and while a second flood threatens to sweep over their property they are at work clearing away the silt and mud that have been left in the wake of the first flood. Some conception of the task before them can be gathered from the fact that three chains of railway line near the township are buried seven feet under tons of mud and boulders. Many houses have from two to eight inches of mud covering the floors, and furnishings have been damaged. Ironically enough, some residents of Little River are without water as the flood carried away portion qf the main from the reservoir, leaving householders without supplies. One service car from Christchurch got through to Little River this morning, being the first to arrive since Friday. It was preceded by a powerful tourer as pilot. Railway communication has not yet been restored, but an attempt will be made to get a train through this evening. Situation Alarming. A telephone message which was received from Little River at 2 p.m. stated that rain continued heavily. The gale was unabated, and the lake was lapping the road in front of the township. The position was acute, and evacuation might be imperative in an hour or two. A cheering item, however, was the arrival at 1.15 p.m. from Kaituna of the first train for three days. It consisted of an engine and a van.