WAIMAKARIRI IN FLOOD

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 6

WAIMAKARIRI IN FLOOD

SHARPEST RISE EVER RECORDED

The sharpest rise ever recorded in the Waimakariri river was indicated ■ at the Gorge bridge at 9.15 p.m. yes- 1 terday when the level was up by 12.3 ft. i At 10 p.m. it had dropped back i nine inches. Flood walers at their peak were expected to pass the Main North road bridge about 3 o’clock this morning: but no serious danger was predicted. The earlier flow was low and high-water from the sea was at midnight. “It is fortunate that this record rise comes on top of an exceptionally low river.” said the chief engineer of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr H. W. Harris) last evening. “The gauge at the gorge showed 806.4 ft above mean sea level at midday today, but by 9.15 this evening it read 818.7 ft. In February, 1940, the gauge reached 819.5 ft—a rise of 11.5 ft—but it started off at 808 ft. “Luckily, before this latest deluge, the river has been at an exceptionally low stage of flow and a good deal of the flood will be absorbed in the bed on the way down. The peak will be reached at the highway bridge about 3 a.m. and, again, it is fortunate that high water is at midnight. “From reports received, there has been a fall of 11& inches of rain at Arthur’s Pass between midnight on Thursday and 4.30 on Friday afternoon. A report at 3 p.m. said that flood waters were level with the decking of the Waimakariri river bridge at Cass leading to Mount White. “Patrols have been out all along the river and flood warnings have j been broadcast by radio and also passed I along by telephone. Farmers have been I advised to move stock to high ground,” I said Mr Harris.