WEST COAST FLOODS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 167, 27 April 1928, Page 6

WEST COAST FLOODS

BRIDGES WASHED AWAY. FALL OF 9| INCHES AT OTIRA. (Per Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, April 26. Residents along the waterfront at Greymouth awoke this morning to finu the Grey River running a banker, .whilst all day long a muddy waste of water swept past the town in a tenknot current. Following intermittent heavy showers yesterday, morning, the rain came down in a deluge toward evening, accompanied by a strong northerly snile. The unwelcome visitation continued until midnight, when the storm moderated, but heayyi showers fell during to-day and this evening, with no prospects of the weatner clearing. The river backed up to the rear of the .Grey Jockey Club's grandstand . during the night, the whole of the back . stretch Off the Omoto racecourse being under water to a depth of three feet. The flood waters also covered farms at Kaiata and Coal Creek, but no loss of stock is reported. Washouts occurred on the Otira railway line between the twenty-eight mile peg and the Rotoroanu station. Only minor damage resulted, and gangs of workmen scon had repairs effected. There was no serious dislocation, of traffic. This morning's early freight train from Greymouth to Otira was held up for' some time, but by 10 o'clock conditions wei-e almost normal,! and the outward express was able to pass over the affected length at a restricted speed. By this afternoon the line was restored to its normal state, and the inward express made its' run from Otira to Greymouth under ordinary conditions. Minor washouts are reported on the Mawheraiti section of the Grey-Reef-ton line, but the trains are all running to schedule. The approach to the Larry's creek railway bridge was ' washed out, the subsidence being sixteen feet long and eight feet in width. Train Traffic Interrupted. It is not expected that any trains will run to Inangahua Junction before Saturday, when* it is hoped to have the damage repaired. The traffic bridge Creek was also washed awaiP .Passengers between Reef ton and Westport and in the other direction are transferring to cars until the river is temporarily bridged. It was expected that the "Westport pas- ' ,sengers arriving by to-day's express would reach their destination this evening. Work at- McAlpine's sawmill at Mawheraiti ' has been suspended through a bridge being carried away by the flood waters. The rainfall registered at Greymouth for the 24 hours previous to 9 o'clock this morning was 175 points, making a total rainfall of 249 points for the 48 hours previous to that hour. At Reef ton the rainfall for. the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. to-day registered 107

points. A terrific storm, which luc-kily was not accompanied by any serious damage, raged throughout the night at Otira, where the rainfall between 11 a.m. yesterday and 9 a.m. to-day registered 9i inches. The roofs of several outbuildings were blown away, but only slight damage resulted. It is expected that the run in the Grey River will have the effect of removing the last traces of shoaling on the bar; Owing to the rough sea all shipping movements are suspended at Greymouth. The Blackball mine ceased operations at noon to-day, and will probably not resume work until the bar is workable. The flood waters are receding this evening. So far no damage is reported to the Grey County roads and bridges.