SEVERE FLOODING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 126, 10 March 1936, Page 3

SEVERE FLOODING

LITTLE RIVER ISOLATED. RAIN IN NORTH CANTERBURY. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 9. The heavy rain which has fallen almost continuously since Saturday night has caused unusually severe flooding, chiefly from surface water. The Ashley River, which caused serious damage in the floods a fortnight ago, is again in flood, but no grave damage is yet reported. One small bridge over the Kowai Stream, between Ashley and Sefton, has been washed away. Homes Vacated. The most serious flooding to-day is in the Little River district. This afternoon several families in Little River left their homes to spend the night with neighbours on higher ground. Near their homes water was then flowing four feet deep over the road, and still rising. The road from Christchurch to Little River is under water in many places. Service cars to Akaroa could not get through to-day, and the railway line also was flooded. A D’ain conveying stock to the Little River ewe fair, to have been held to-day, is isolated at Birdling’s Flat owing to washouts on the line. The road at Kinloch is four feet under water and several slips have occurred. Lake Forsyth is rising, but as its level was low before the flood rains began, and as the outlet to the sea was then still open, no flooding from the lake is expected. An Unenviable Prospect. With the streams sweeping down like great torrents into the township, and Lake Forsyth rising to meet them, the people of Little River were faced to-night with the prospect of haying to leave their homes at any moment. The flooding was even greater than at the time of the disastrous floods in May, 1934. All day relentless driving rain beat upon the township and brought the streams down at a terrific pace, filling the streets with water to a depth of three and four feet. The' situation became acute this evening, when Lake Forsyth, which had been at a low level, began to rise. Late this evening it was within a loot of the road and if the rain continues throughout the night residents of the township will likely be faced with a serious plight. They had all their furniture piled up high in their homes and were ready to leave at any moment. Two, in fact, were foiced to leave late in the afternoon when water to a depth of two inches lay on the floor. The township was lapidly isolated. The ewe fair, which was to have been held there was abandoned eariv in the morning. Owners began to remove their sheep, but had filled only 12 trucks when the water rose so rapidly that they had to stop work and swim the rest of the sheep out The stocks on the trucks was soon marooned and had to he left there all night. It was feared that many would die of cold overnight, although the water was not high enough to enter the trucks.

Potato Crops Rotting. The rain is very unwelcome in the country. Very little wheat remains ungarnered, hut the rain will complete the damage of a fortnight ago to; grain still out in the fields. The worst damage from the present rains may be to the potato 1 crops, some of which were rotting already after the rains of the last storm. lx>sses of potatoes may be considerable at many points. On the main south road storm water was lying on roads to a depth in places of 18 inches. In the city much surface flooding occurred. The Heathcote River ovei - flowed its hanks, apd low-lying lands near its course are submerged. One family in Western Terrace removed its furniture and left the house. Otliei flooding caused discomfort'to residents, but little or no damage. The. rain continues unabated. About two inches of rain has fallen in the last 24 horns.