HEIGHT OF LAKE FORSYTH

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21510, 27 June 1935, Page 12

HEIGHT OF LAKE FORSYTH

CAUSE FOR ALARM I —,— BLOCKAGE OF OUTLET TO SEA SOMlf flooding may yet OCCUR When the south-west rain stopped in Little River at about' 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and there was a prospect of a frost this morning, the danger of a sudden and disastrous flood, such as occurred in the district last year, was definitely over. Lake Forsyth, however, was still rising rapidly, and had in fact overflowed the road at Birdling's Flat,' although not sufficiently to hinder traffic. The streams feeding the Jake were swollen after heavy rain in the hillsides, and with an abnormally high bank of shingle blocking the outlet from the lake to the sea, there was still danger of gradual but none the less serious flooding from the lake. A farmer living near the lake said yesterday that he ,had never before seen such a bank of shingle blocking the putlet to the sea, and he had seldom seen the lake so high. The outlet to the sea is cleared periodically, the work usually taking about a week, but it is estimated that three weeks or more will elapse before a trench can be dug through the present bank of shingle, and allow the lake to lose its surplus water. Should more rain come before the outlet is cleared,, or even should a strong south-west wind back up the water in the lake, there will be definite danger of a serious flood. At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon there was water over the main road about 200 yards from the railway station at Little River, and the \vater from the lake-was also over the road at Birdling's Flat, while there was other surface water on many parts ot the road. When the rain went off however, it was followed by bright sunshine and this soon disposed oj much of the surface water around the township. Effect of Heavy Seas

Heavy seas, driven by the southwest gale, have caused the building up of the shingle bank, which blocks the outlet, to such an abnormal size. The bank has gradually been getting bigger each day for a week, anci the delay that must occur in removing it is the factor which gives settlers most cause for anxiety. Until the trench giving access from the lake to the sea is built there is nothing to stop the lake waters from overflowing, and while steady rain and a strong southerly wind would be necessary for a sudden flood, a gradual flooding from the lake is likely, at any time until the outlet has been made. Althovgh there was no immediate danger of a flood on Tuesday night many farmers whose lands might have been affected by the overflow from Lake Forsyth took the precaution of removing their stock to a higher level. With heavy rain falling at 11 yesterday morning, a flood seemed imminent, however, and some settlers were faced with a difficulty of access to and from their properties. Streams crossing the side roads leading to someproperties in Western Valley were running very high- and could not be forded. These troubles, however, should be greatly alleviated by the stoppage of the rain, and the main danger in the district now comes from the shingle bank preventing the lake waters from finding an outlet.

Heavy Rain Through Province There was heavy rain in the cily yesterday until the early afternoon, when the rain stopped, the sky gradually cleared, and a cold but perfectly fine evening gave every indication of a heavy frost this morning. The rain wag general all over the province, and snow was reported from the' high country in many parts. The sudden change to fine weather yesterday afternoon was also general in the province, and the rain appeared definitely over everywhere by late yesterday afternoon. In the city the total of rain that had fallen by 9 a.m. was 57 points, and a further 7 points fell before the rain stopped early in the afternoon. The rainfall for the year is 11.46 inches to date, " and for last year the total was 16.03 inches for the same period. Yesterday was also notable as the - third of three very cold days. The maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 46 degrees, and at !) a.m. the thermometer reading was 41.7 degrees.