SERIOUS FLOOD DAMAGE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22444, 4 July 1938, Page 10

SERIOUS FLOOD DAMAGE

ASHLEY RIVER'S FAST RISE ■ .} “No Serious Trouble ■ I. ? Expected” FLOODING AT FLAXTQN AND WEST EYRETON Heavy rain fell almost continuously \ throughout North Canterbury yesterday, causing severe flooding in the low--1 lying parts of the West Eyreton and Flaxton districts. Flooding in these areas, however, was caused mainly by surface water | and the overflow from the larger drains 5 The Cust drain had risen considerably 3 by 9 o’clock last night. Although the | Eyre and Kowai rivers were not much above normal level, it was expected ■ that both rivers would rise consider--3 ably during the night. Since noon yesterday the Ashley • river has risen about 13in, a rise of Sin taking place between 5 and 6 p.m The engineer to the Ashley River Trust. Mr R. Mclntyre, informed ‘’The Press” that the flow in the river at 6 p.m. was - 20,000 cusecs, compared with a normal ; flow of about 200 cysecs, Although thir : is a considerable increase, he did not I expect any serious trouble. The flow ' in the river when serious flooding oct curred in the district two years ago ■ was 100.000 cusecs. Late yesterday afternoon snow began to fall on the ranges at the head of the Ashley, which, he considered, would have a tendency to prevent the river from rising much further. WATER ENTERS HOMES ELLESMERE DISTRICT SUFFERS STREAMS THROUGH STREETS OF TOWNSHIP A steady downpour of sweeping xmth-west rain resulted in heavy flooding in many parts of the Ellesmere district yesterday. In Leeston and Doyleston it was reported that flood water had entered a number of homes, causing the residents to seek shelter elsewhere for the night, and in a numher of other houses, the water was % lapping near the tops of house foundations. In Leeston itself, creeks in flood, combined with the effect of a really heavy - downpour on • land already soaked with phenomenal rain in recent weeks to cover scores of acres of lowlying land. In the township itself a stream of water ran through the streets, and while it was reported that business premises had not been affected. householders were anxiously watching its level throughout the evening. and some of them had had to leave their hon es. A Doyleston farmer, telephoned from Christchurch, reported that water had entered his house, and that other nearby farmers, whose homes were on lower levels, would probably be more badly affected. Roads near Springston, Irwell, and Lincoln, and towards Leeston were covered with much surface water, often to a depth of more than a foot, and a special warning to motorists to take ’ care was issued hy the Transport Department. Little River was not so seriously affected as some of the other districts, although there was much surface water across the road. Lake Forsyth had not overflowed on to the road, however. It was reported from Little River that there had been several slips on the road, one being near Birdling’s Flat. Recently sown wheat in the districl will suffer severely from this rain, with its cumulative effect on the soaking the ground has already received. In some parts of the district whole paddocks are under water, only the tops of fence posts marking a vast expanse of water into squares. No stock losses were reported, but many farmers had a busy time shifting stock to safer quarters, and some were anxious of the effect if the fall should continue through the night. I FIVE INCHES IN FIVE DAYS’ DOWNPOUR AT ASHBURTON \ ____ p£, five inches of rain has fallen ever^? n s * nee last Tuesday night. fnr» hfl s Ana- but there was a lore m Sy fan yesterday< No ' g occurred, but there al of surface water in ’pt the county.

Traffic Dislocated on Main Roads SOUTH-WEST STORM SWEEPS PROVINCE Ellesmere Residents Forced to Leave Their Homes A south-west storm, the climax of four days of intermittent rain, swept Canterbury yesterday, causing serious flooding and much damage to roads and properties. In the Ellesmere district the fall seemed heaviest, and combined with flooded creeks to cover huge areas with water. Some residents in Doyleston and Leeston were forced to abandon their homes for the night, because water entered them, and others spent an anxious time watching the level of the water round their homes. Traffic was delayed on the Main South road by the surface water which flooded it in many places between Rolleston and Geraldine. Service-car drivers who came through reported that many small cars were temporarily stranded, and that if the rain continued through the night there was a likelihood of the road being completely blocked in some places, North of Christchurch the rain was just as heavy, and much surface flooding occurred at Flaxton and West Eyreton. The Ashley river rose 18 inches yesterday, W serious flooding of the neighbouring lands was not expected. Heavy falls of snow were reported in the back country, and more snow was expected. The rain follows exceptionally heavy falls in June, and for the first six months of the year, and much of the flooding caused was a direct result of the earlier soaking that all low-lying land has had in recent weeks.

FLOODING FROM IRRIGATION Ditch Walls Said To Be Gut POSITION ON LEVELS PLAIN [THE PRESS Special Service.) TEMUKA, July 3. Allegations that farmers on the Levels plain had been cutting the walls of the irrigation ditches to release standing water were made by Mr S. Cargo, one of the Seadown farmers who are suffering the most hardship in the South Canterbury floods. So rrfUch water was in the races at Seadown that, it was leaping over the tops of checks, culverts, and siphons. Mr Cargo said there was twice the amount of water the ditches could normally take in them. He had heard, even, that the violent rush of water had washed out the banks in places. Ha was sure the only way so much could get in was through some farmer higher up letting water off his land at the expense of those lower down. Mr T. G. Beck, irrigation engineer to the Public Works Department, said it was evident that the races had been breached. The amount of water that could collect in them by catchment was negligible. Nothing could be done unless the culprit was caught redhanded. , Everything was ready, however, for the dead-end at Seadown to be opened to let the water out to sea. All the plant was on the spot and the Public Works Department was waiting only for the water to go down, when the work could be done, in some cases in a few hours. Water was lying four feet deep at Milford yesterday, and it is believed that the floor of a house was awash near Washdyke. At Orton the fall yesterday was even heavier than that of Friday evening, and thus there had been no drop in the flood level, FARMS AND ROADS FLOODED GERALDINE COUNTY DAMAGE SOME DISLOCATION OF TRAFFIC Roads and farm properties'throughout the Geraldine County are badly flooded with surface water, and some damage and dislocation of traffic has been reported. The rivers, which are all in flood, are not reported to be exceptionally high, however, and late last evening the rain was reported to be easing. A fall of 3.42 inches had been recorded in the last five days, and it comes on top of a record halfyear’s rainfall. Snow ploughs were again working yesterday in the backblock areas in the Mackenzie County. Mr D. Jeune, Mackenzie County engineer, said that the snow in the. back-country areas was about five inches deep, and it was reported that there was seven inches at Mount Gerald. At Tekapo snow fell throughout Saturday. night and until 2 p.m. yesterday. Last night there were prospects of more snow. After a June rainfall of 6.27 inches at Fairlie. a further 65 points was recorded yesterday morning, and rain fell throughout the day. Approach to Bridge Damaged The worst damage in the Geraldine County was g, wash-out on the approach on the northern end of the Rolleston bridge on the Clandeboye highway, Mr J. R. Hawcridge, county engineer at Geraldine, told “The Press” after a tour of inspection. Much surface water was over the road at the northern approach to Badham’s bridge on “the Orton highway, and for a time this completely blocked traffic. Near the Clandeboye dairy factory a culvert washed out and the Epworth road at Temuka was still blocked last night at William’s preek near the Maori pa. s Most of the county roads were carrying a big amount of surface water. There was a deep pond for a considerable length along the WinchesterMilford road. Some pf the most serious damage was caused by scouring on the Cape? Valley portion of the Geraldine-Fair lie highway. The road was very rough and there was a good deal of water across it near O’Brien’s Creek. Motorists who passed through Geraldine reported last night that flooding on the south side of Cooper’s Creek was blocking small cars from going through. The water had receded considerably by late evening, however, and in Geraldine, itself the downpour was. easing, off.