CANTERBURY FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 308, 29 December 1924, Page 7

CANTERBURY FLOODS.

CAMP PARTY MAROONED. AN EXCITING KESCUE. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) ASHBURTO.., Saturday. Heavy and continuous rain over a period of forty hours caused an almost record Hood in the Ashburton Kiver. The water broke through the river banks in several places, inundating extensive areas and isolating farm houses.

The exciting rescue of a marooned family was witnessed near the Ashburton golf links. Mr. Thomas Jackson ami li'S wife and child, ot Auckland, and also Air. Patrick Mannion were in camp. The rher had broken over the hanks and snrroiiiulort the party. A resident of Tinwald, Mr. George Wesley, a Maori, mounted a draught horse and negotiated the flooded waters after a treacherous ride. He returned with tbe woman and child and then brought the men to safety. About one hundred people, who witnessed the rescue, made tangible recognition of .Mr. bravery. Twenty holiday campers on the river bank were forced to make a hurried exodus in the middle of the night; the river rising over six inches in an hour. Grain and grass crops throughout the county have been extensively damaged. Several bridges are damaged and a number of roads are impassable. The oldest residents in the higher country state that the rainfall is the heaviest they have ever experienced. ! I'nless the rain ceases the Main South :Koad will bo closed to traffic. !thnt the onl possible obstacle to the I MUCH DAMAGE REPOTTED. I (Ry Telegraph— Press Association') ' TIMARU, Sunday. j As a result of the phenomenally heavy | rains in the back country in South iCanterbury the rivers are all in heavy flood. Much damage has been done to roads, bridges and cereal crops. Heavy losses of stock have been suffered by some settlers living on the low country adjacent to rivers. Road traffic is seriously impeded through the swollen rivers.