SEVERE FLOODING IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24571, 21 May 1945, Page 4

SEVERE FLOODING IN CHRISTCHURCH

Homes Evacuated In Suburbs DAMAGE NOT SERIOUS IN COUNTRY Houses in some low-lying parts of Christchurch had , to be evacuated yesterday when the city suffered its worst flooding, in the opinion of local body officers, for 36 years. A heavy, drizzling rain, driven by a high south-westerly wind, fell almost incessantly throughout the week-end, and natural and artificial drainage channels proved inadequate to carry off the water. ‘ • Fears that country districts would suffer as they did in the disastrous floods of February were not justified, 0 although some damage was done in most districts, the worst in those districts near Banks Peninsula. Apparently the raid was largely coastal, and fortunately the fall in the catchment areas of the big rivers was not comparable with that of February. Although the rain in most country districts has not been as heavy as in Christchurch, farming operations will be considerably delayed. The most serious set-back will be to the preparation of land for wheat. It is probable, too, that some recently-sown crops will have been hashed out. The rain eased off in Christchurch after 8 o’clock last evening, and although the weather was still cold and blustery, little further rain had fallen up to midnight. The total rainfall for the 48 hours up to midnight was 2.70 m.