THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17747, 26 April 1923, Page 16

THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

WATERS RAPIDLY RECEDING. MEASURES TO RELIEVE DISTRESS. (PASSS ASSOCIATION *iEX.ECr.AiI.j DUNEDIN, April 25. The Hooded areas in the city and suburbs have undergone wonderful improvement during tho past 24 houivi,. , and another day or two will see conditions bad: to normal, as far as tho flood-wntors are concerned. The northern end of the town has been clear of water for some 24 hours, and during ! to-day the water which covered the major portion of St. Kilda has almost disappeared. The portion of the town north of King Edward stroet is still badly inundated, and it probably will be some days before tho water will disappear completely. The Forbury Park trotting track is still covered, likewise the Carisbroolc fooibr.ll ground. The tramways service is now practically in full operation. The silt has been a great trouble at the north end, but the oniy difficulty now to contend with, so far as the city lines are concerned, is water in the pits at the sheds, as the men cannot get any work done under tho cars. With regard to the railway lines, the North line is clear. On the Southern line tho trains are running to Moßgiel only. Uis reported that the liiu; has been seriously damaged further South. Several bridges have been washed away. It is hoped to got railway connexion with Invercargiil established to-morrow, but this is not definite. The Taieri Plains are still under water, but tho floods are receding. Breaks havo occurred in the various embankments, and stock are lenown to have been lost in the Outram district. Both daily newspapers have opened relief funds, and the Mayor has ulbo , opened a fund. Food and meals arc being delivered in the flooded area:';, 1 and some shops remained open all today for the benefit of those affected by the flood. Gangs of men were at work all today, effecting repairs to the roads, and for the past 36 hours a large gang has been engaged in repairing the break :o the water main from Sullivan's dan;. Practically the whole of Morning!on, Roslyn, Caversham, and other portions of the city have' been without water, but the break has now been repaired. Practically no ;-aiu ir.as fallen during the past ii-A hour.-; RELIEF FUNDS OPENED. THE FLIGHT OF THE HOMELESS. (spjsczal 10 "i'M FP.r.as.') DUNEDIX, April 2-1. The Flood Relief funds now total over £4OO. Speaking lu some of the homeless, a reporter was told of several' exciting experiences. One old couple, who lived in a small house in the vicinity of St. Andrew street, were awakened front their early sleep on Sunday morning by tfio gurgling rush of wator through the room. They rose and found that the street was flooded over tho doorstep level, but they did nothing except place a few of their poor belongings on the table. Still the water rose, and still they trusted a subsidence coming at any moment. It did not come, however, and the old couple, now hopelessly trapped, were hard put to it to keep their heads above water. When at last rescuers arrived tho old man was up to. his elbows in the water, while his aged partner found a precarious foothold on tho window sill, and clung to the windowframe. Another case was that of a woman with five children, living in a twestorey house in the same vicinity. When tho water camo in they shifted upstairs, and sat at the window all night, watching the flood rise higher and higher, until it covered the mantelpiece in the room below. Everything was ruined there, and even in the upstairs, portion the rain had found entrance, and tho fear was ever present that the ancient and none-too-Btable house next door would collapse and bring their home to ruin also. Next morning the occupants wcro carried out by men who waded waist-' high to the scene. This woman, when telling her experiences, bogged to be allowed to go back home with "two of the youngest." "But it won't be lit for you to live there yet," said the ensign. "Oh, we'll be all right," said the mother, and turning to the reporter, remarked, "There's no place like homo, even if it's poor." "And half under water," added the reporter. Two small Boy Scouts performed a prompt and plucky deed yesterdaj. which has earned the highest praise from all who witnessed the incident. A lady between seventy and eighty years of age was trying to negotiate the footpath in Mcßridc street, South Dunedin, when tho flood was at its height about 10 a.m. She was seen struggling through the water, whicn was knee deep, and becoming exhaust ed collapsed and disappeared in the water. She was unable to rise, and the two Scouts rushed to her assistance. Her weight was too much for the little fellow to carry, but they held her up by the shoulders, and this saved her from a situation which, in view of her age and exhaustion, might have cost her her life. The boys then struggled with their burden into Eroughton street, dragging the-woman through tho water for a distance of about 100 yards. A passerby then came to their assistance, and she was held above water until a milk cart camo along, in which she was placed and conveyed to the home of friends. The old lady lost consciousness shortly after sho fell in the water. The incident was witnessed by several women, who state that but for the bovs' action she would have been drowned. A house visited by Salvation Army officers was found to bo occupied by an old couple, the mail 89 and the woman 83. The latter was paddling about distressfully in a foot of water trying to rescue the little familiar things of the home. The man was i;j the corner nursing a foot afflicted wi^- 1 gout. They were both carried out and taken to tho Army Barracks. The waters covering the St. Kilda flat and Musselburgh had not greatly rccoded last evening. A motor car churning up the waves of Bay View road might have been a paddle steamer from a distance. Not many of the breadwinners of the most submerged parts of this area got into town to work till the afternoon. when they made their journey to what had become the mainland. Thi usual procedure was to wade perhaps for half a mile in old clothes, donned for the purpose, carrying in u bag n chango of raiment, which could bo donned at the works or office. But

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this meant too mucli to carry for a considerable number, and men and women alike could bo Been yesterday afternoon returning to or sallying from their island homes barelegged andt>arefooted, except for boots. Over large areas where the water <jid not actually invade many houses, it required only to rise three or four inches to do so. Uonte scores of families were kept, therefore, in a lively suspense all day yesterday, and were not sure when they turned into their beds last night that they would not step out of them into water this morning. Those only were free from misgivings who had made an early evacuation of their dwellings, and in one not iuconsiderable 3trect in Musselburgh every house yesterday was deserted. On Sunday evening it was found that a fair volume of water was making its way into the basement of the "Star-'' office, where is housed the big Goss machine- which prints the paper. The water Was making its war into the premises chiefly from the excavations being made next door on the site of the old Pier Hotel. Pumps were secured about S o'clock, and were worked all night in an effort to clear the place. A considerable amoun', of newsprint paper was'badly damaged, and much of it will not be able to be used. On Monday morning mors pumps were secured, and most of the water was got out by the afternoon, with the result that the "Star" was able to be -produced as usual.