FLOODS IN SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 118, 21 May 1945, Page 6

FLOODS IN SOUTH

DUNEDIN DOWNPOUR

EXPRESS TRAINS DELAYED

P.A. DUNEDIN, Sunday. A sustained downpour of rain, which commenced about midnight on Friday and continued without cessation throughout Saturday, caused serious flooding in many parts of the city and at one stage a recurrence of the disastrous flood of 1929 and the even worse visitation of 1923 was threatened. Between midnight on Friday and midnight on Saturday five inches of rain were recorded in Dunedin, but fortunately there was a diminution of the fall late in the afternoon. The North East Valley district was the area most seriously affected. No serious damage was caused in any other part of the city, but a great deal of surface water was to be seen in the low-lying areas of ■ South Dunedin. Water entered a fewshops at Cargill's Corner, but the losses suffered by owners were not serious. Slips on the main north railway line at Mihiwaka halted the express which left Dunedin at 11.32 a.m. on Saturday and it was found impossible to bring the train back to Dunedin, as after it had passed another slip came down on the line near Port Chalmers. Railway Department buses subsequently transferred the 460 passengers to Waitati, where an express from Christchurch was turned around and 1100 passengers from the north were brought to Dunedin by road. The slips were being cleared to-day and it was expected that an express would be dispatched for Christchurch to-night.