WAIMAKARIRI RIVER

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26477, 19 July 1951, Page 8

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER

MODERATE FLOOD YESTERDAY

The level of the Waimakariri river ! n J he gorge yesterday after «what Catchment Board officers described as a moderate flood. . the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday Arthurs Pass had 7.02 in of rain raising the river level in the gorge j?J eve < n i In . tlle Phenomenal floods of last year the river rose over 12 feet in the gorge. * TJ? 0U , gh r, jt continued to rain at Arthurs Pass yesterday the fall was much lighter than on Tuesday. From 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. yesterday the rain measurement was 1.68 in. With this kJ 1 e , le Y. el the river had fallen . fe et by last evening, and the North Canterbury Catchment Board was confident that the flood was past its peak. H With the river at a high level in the gorge, warnings were issued to farmers early in the day to shift stock from the riverbed area. The flood reached its peak at the Main North road traffic bridge late in the afternoon about the same time as high on the coast. The river is reported to have held the flood at all points. In Ashburton county there was only medium flooding in the snow-fed Rangitata and North Ashburton rivers. There was a fresh in Taylor’s stream, and the Hinds river was almost normal. The Automobile Association 'Canterbury) was last evening advising motorists not to use the Lewis Pass road after dark. The road is sticky after the rain and thaw. The Arthur’s Pass route to the West Coast, is still closed. No interruptions were reported to rail traffic.