OTAGO FLOODS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24503, 28 February 1945, Page 6

OTAGO FLOODS

INSPECTION BY MR SEMPLE WORKS DEPARTMENT TO HELP (P.A.) DUNEDIN, February 27. The Minister of Works Xjhe Hon. 8,. Semple) flew over the Stirling, Kaitangata.and to-day and later paid a visit to the area with Works Department engineers. The: Minister . that, in of the magnmide ol the flooding, the Works Department would take over the task of clearing the flood waters and repairing damage.. Scores of bulldozers and other machines and great quantities of equipment, together with hundreds of mem would be required to cope with what the Minister described as a ; national disaster. , Alter meeting of local bodies the Minister, accompanied by Mr J. A. Hoy, M.P., and engineers, inspected the worst-flooded areas, where he found the break-through in the Clutha river bank near Stirling more serious than ever, with a great Volume of water flowing through; to the adjacent ,• countryside, immediate arrangements were made, to build _« dam, engineers estimating that 6000 tons of rock would be required, . 'At Kaitangata the position was ai£» found to be serious, with imminent danger of the lock. keeping the flood Waters' back being destroyed. If this happens the township will be flooded. Immediate work was authorised here. ■ The Minister emphasised fliat money Was only a secondary consideration in face of such a menacing situation. He explained that he would remain in Dunedin until he received an assurance that all danger Was past. - . Late to-night it WaS i;epdrted ttiat the flood waters wOre still rising, but that the ClUtha river had fallen by two feet.