FIGHT TO SAVE STOPBANK

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26126, 31 May 1950, Page 8

FIGHT TO SAVE STOPBANK

WORK BY LIGHT OF FLARES EFFORTS BY OTIRA RESIDENTS From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, May 30. By the light of flares and in heavy rain residents of Otira worked to strengthen the stopbank and prevent the Otira river from flooding the lower part of the town on Friday everting. As the river rose the stopbank weakened, and small trees and shrubs were lashed with wire against the bank to break the force of the current. In some homes preparations were made for a hasty evacuation, but by 10 p.m. the river had dropped two or three feet. A watch was kept until 2.30 a.m. on Saturday. By then all possible danger had passed.

An uncompleted wire mesh groyne, recently built above the threatened break, is believed to have helped considerably in the fight to save the stopbank.

The roar of avalanches falling spasmodically into the river-bed directly opposite the township helped to create an atmosphere of eeriness. Major landslide falls of varying proportions continued throughout Friday and Saturday. and the noises of crashes resounded throughout the valley. Power failed at 8.30 p.m. on Friday and was not restored until 5.30 p.m. on Saturday. The rainfall was the heaviest on record at Otira. It is estimated that a total of 20 inches fell in a 24-hour period on Friday. The week-end meat supplies reached Otira by transfer trolley transport on Sunday, and by the same means bread from Greymouth arrived there last evening.