SERIOUS FLOODS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 10

SERIOUS FLOODS.

CANTERBURY'S PLIGHT.

WATER INVADES HOUSES

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. A south-westerly storm which swept the province to-day as * climax to several days of boisterous weather caused serious flooding in many t>arts of Canterbury.

At Leeston streams in high flood and a very heavy fall of rain on land already well soaked combined to cover scores of acres of low-lying land. In the township itself water ran through the streets. Houses near the town were flooded and were abandoned for the night by the occupants.

The heavy rain, together with high tides, caused the Heathcote River to over-run its banks and the water entered a number of homes in the Opawa, Woolston and Radley districts, near Christchurch. Between Rolleston and Geraldine the water was over the roads in many places. Homes at Rolleston also were entered by flood waters, but the position was not regarded as serious. The roads near Springston, Irwell and Lincoln and in the direction of Leeston were covered with surface water to a depth of more than a foot in many places. The road from Christchurch to Banks Peninsula also carried much surface water.

Five inches of rain has heen recorded at Ashburton since last Tuesday night, when the present spell of wet weather commenced. However, there has been no severe flooding in the Ashburton district, although much of the low-lying land is covered with surface water.

In parts of the Ellesmere district the storm resulted in heavy flooding.