HEAVY RAIN IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28089, 3 October 1956, Page 12

HEAVY RAIN IN CANTERBURY

Threat Of Flooding From Rivers

LAMBING LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED

Light to heavy rain which began again over much of Canterbury yesterday caused rivers to rise and threatened flooding if it continued unabated for another 24 hours..

The latest falls of up to Bin—this figure was recorded in the Clarence valley—occurred when the countryside was well saturated after last week’s rains.

In the North Canterbury Catchment Board’s district, all rivers were rising last night. The chief engineer to the board (Mr H. M. Reid) said last evening that conditions were not yet serious, but with further rain forecast, he could not predict what the future might hold. Mr Reid said there was about a “half-flood” in the upper reaches of the Selwyn. The Eyre, which was usually dry, was flowing into the Waimakariri after heavy rain at the back of Oxford. The Waimakariri was up to about 2ft all the way down after heavy rain in the Kowai at the back of Springfield. The Ashley was in light flood. Mr D. M. Patterson, engineer to the Selwyn County Council, who saw the Selwyn at Coalgate early last evening, said it was in fresh and rising. The Hororata was in low flood and rising. Ashley in Flood Late last evening, the Ashley was reported to be running bank to bank at the traffic bridge near Rangiora. The Hawkins, Kowai, x°ahau, and Waiau were also running high. In the South Canterbury Catchment Board’s district, rivers were rising yesterday, and if steady rain continues, there may be trouble. The Picton-Christchurch main highway was closed to traffic from 6 p.m. yesterday to 6 a.m. today at the shingle fans at Dunluce, about 30 miles north of Kaikoura. The Automobile Association (Canterbury) reported last evening that during daylight yesterday, a grader towed cars through. At one stage the grader became.stuck, and a bulldozer had to go to its rescue. Delay at the fans prevented a Health Department team from carrying out poliomyelitis inoculations in the Kaikoura district yesterday. It had been Scheduled to visit schools at Kekerangu and on the Kaikoura-Waiau inland road. The Lewis Pass and Otira Gorge routes to the West Coast were both open yesterday. On the Lewis Pass road creeks were running high, and near Marble Point, about four miles from the junction of the Lewis Pass and Hanmer Springs, roads, there was about two inches of surface water on the road. Minor Slips

There were minor slips on the Duvauchelle-Akaroa section of the Christchurch-Akaroa State highway, but they did not obstruct traffic. Fog on either side of the Hilltop, however, caused delays. Heavy rain fell yesterday in the Kaikoura district and eastern Marlborough. At Glen Alton station, seven miles up the Clarence valley. 7.88 in of rain fell in the 24 hours ended at 6 p.m. yesterday; and jn the same period 5.81 in was recorded at Grange road, about five miles from Kaikoura in the foothills of the Seaward Kaikouras. Streams and creeks from the foothills of the mountain range have spread considerable quantities of surface water over the low-lying flats. The Hapuku, Kowhai, and Kahautara rivers are all in flood. At Cheviot, very heavy rain feP throughout the day, and the downpou was continuing at 7.30 p.m. The rail started at 1 a.m. yesterday, and b 9 a.m., 1.64 inches had fallen. Betwee) 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. another 1.62 inche fell, making a total of 3.26 inches i» 16 hours. Although roads in the areare still open, surface flooding ha occurred, in the township, and abou' 50 acres of fields were under shallow water last evening. Losses of from 150 to 200 lambs have been reported from individual farms in the foothills country of MidCanterbury. where up to 9 a.m. yesterday about four inches of rain had fallen since last week. A Darfield farmer who is in the middle of lambing said last evening that he expected many of his lambs would die last night. “It is not that it is so terribly cold,” he said, “but the continuous wet gets them down. They never get dry.” Another farmer said the cold spell associated with the rain had checked the ewes so that when they gave birth to twins, they could not carry both lambs. Surfeit at Darfield

At Darfield, where more than 1} inches fell between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. a esterday, and about 4 inches has fallen in the last week, a farmer said that the country was swimming in water. ‘‘A little while ago we were screaming for it,” he said. “Now we have got it.” With a further 78 points in the 24 hours to 5 p.m. yesterday, the Ohoka district has had about 3’, inches since last week. “We have had plenty in the meantime.” said a resident, but he added that the water still seemed to be soaking away well. At Culverden, about another halfinch of rain fell up to 5 p.m. yesterday. “We would like to see two weeks’ sunshine now, and then another rain.” said a farmer last evening. “We must-be just about on the verge of a flood,” said a Lees Valley farmer, reporting continuous steady rain last evening. . „ „ At Harewood 12 points of rain fell in the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday, and by midnight there had been a further 70 points. The Weather Office, which reported intermittent drizzle and rain over the province all day yesterday, said early last evening that there might be an imorovement in the weather late today. Coastal Rains On the coastal strip between Ashburton and Rakaia about 30 points of rain fell yesterday, bringing the fall since the weather broke last week to 375 inches. A farmer in this district said the ground was now soaked right down, no tractor work was at present possible, and sheep were beginning to show the effects of the wet. But he added that the rain had promoted a great growth, and feed should be assured for some time. It would be beneficial for crops in the ground, but it would be some time before more could be sown. After showers during most of the dav, thick, steady rain set in at Waimate late yesterday afternoon. Till 9 a.m. yesterday the district had had 2J inches since last week. Timaru had heavy rain during Monday night, and after a fine spell yesterday morning rain began again early in the afternoon and was falling heavily last evening. Farmers in the district say they have had “any amount of rain.”