RECORD FLOOD IN WAIMAKARIRI

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26124, 29 May 1950, Page 6

RECORD FLOOD IN WAIMAKARIRI

River Breaks Banks At Three Points

EXCEPTIONAL RAINFALL IN WATERSHED

After a fall of more than 16 inches of rain in the watershed of the Waimakariri river on Friday, when the river rose 12.6 feet at the Gorge bridge, one foot higher than previously known, the river came down in high flood early on Saturday morning. It built up to within six inches of the top of stopbanks near the Main North road traffic bridge and broke through the banks at three points. The breaks were all near the traffic bridge.

Houses were inundated at Coutts Island, White’s bridge, and on the north bank of the river above the main road. In several cases occupants had to make hasty evacuations. As rain has ceased falling in the watershed the river is expected to fall further to-day.

The wash-out of the northern approach to the Rakaia railway bridge was repaired on Saturday and normal running was resumed in the afternoon.

The Midland railway line will be out of action for some days and in the meantime the Railways Department has arranged for a limited road service between Christchurch and the Coast.

The power storage position in the South Island had benefited by about 12,000,000 units up till yesterday morning—about two weeks’ supply—and the general manager of the State Hydro-electric Department (Mr A. E. Davenport) said last evening that the degree of power rationing would be reviewed to-day.