THE OTAGO FLOODS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17749, 28 April 1923, Page 16

THE OTAGO FLOODS.

A SWAGGER'S DEATH. (tiisb ■ issocijitios irLza»i.H.) DUNEDIN, April 17. A tragedy of the flood wa3 revealed at "Waikonaifci at an inquest on aa unknown swagger, about 55 years of age. The evidence showed that a tent was seen alongside tho Waikouaiti River on Sunday, but when tho spot was visited on Monday it had been .feet deep under water, and 150 yards below the body was found. The rise of the' river had been so rapid that there was no chance of escape. The inquest was adjourned to endeavour to ascertain identification of tho deceased. The flood position is much improved. Now that the Leith is resuming its normal level, it has been discovered that though bridges have been displaced, none has suffered serious structural damage. Tho Taieri County Council engineer considers that a Government grant or loan will be needed for the restoration of the Taieri bridges:

A Christchurch visitor, who returned to ' Christchurch on Thursday from Invercaigill, informed a | 'Press''_ reporter that the Taieri Plain was in a very sorry state as a result of tlie flood, and stacks were to be seen halfsubmerged in wide settings of water. Further south, however, there was apparently little damage done. The Ulutha, a enow-fed river, which carries a tremendous quantity of water when in flood, occasioned no alarm locally, and the same may be said of the Mat aura. The rain in the south was practically all coastal, and tho two main waterways mentioned were very little affected.