SUDDEN RISE IN RIVERS.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20828, 11 April 1933, Page 14

SUDDEN RISE IN RIVERS.

FLOODS DURING WEEKEND. HEAVY RAIN ON WATERSHED. Heavy rain in the back country during the week-end caused floods in some of the rivers in Canterbury, the Waimakariri in particular rising suddenly on Sunday evening to a height of sft 6in above normal at "White's bridge. The Rakaia, the Hurunui, and the Waiau also were affected. There was no difference in the Ashley, the Waipara, and the Kowai. At Arthur's Pass the rainfall on Saturday evening was very heavy, and more than six inches were recorded over the week-end. The Waimakariri reached a peak shortly after seven o'clock on Sunday evening. Its rise was unusually swift, the peak being reached in a few hours. The rise showed in the gorge at 9 a.m., and the river was soon five feet above normal at Oxford, but the flood was not noticeable at White s bridge until 3.15 p.m. The peak was reached four hours later, ihe tan began only a quarter of an hour after the peak had been reached, and continued steadily. Yesterday afternoon the river was about two feet above normal at White s bridge The strain of the water was well taken by the protective works put in bv the Waimakariri River liust. The rise in the Waiau also was unusually rapid. At 9 a.m. on Sunday the river was clear but at 9 15 a m. it was in flood, about 6in above normal. Yesterday afternoon the river was falling, and it was expected that the flow would be normal by Thursday. The Hurunui rose on Saturday night alter being slightly discoloured in the afternoon. It was falling rapidly yesterday, and in the late afternoon was about six inches above normal. Party Marooned. At Ferriday's Island, in the Hakaia river, two parties from Christchurch were marooned for the night on Sunday. There were five men and three women and a child, among whom were Mr and Mrs R. McKinnon, of Sydenham, and Mr S. A. Chidgey, of Durham street. Soon after the party had been caught one of the men managed to swim across to the mainland and a horse and dray were driven across to the island with some difficulty. The danger of driving back with a load in the dray was such that it was considered advisable to stay for the night on the island. There was fortunately an empty house on the island, and the party stayed in this for the night. Yesterday morning the river had gone down sufficiently to enable the dray to cross. The swiftness of the rise resulted in three fishermen in the Waimakariri being caught on a shingle bank near the traffic bridge. Timely assistance from passing motorists who threw a rope to the men and pulled them ashore saved them irom an unpleasant situation.