CLUTHA RIVER STOPBANKS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 12

CLUTHA RIVER STOPBANKS

Break Repaired At Hermitage (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. Nov. 27. The Clutha River is no longer flowing through Stirling. Late last night Ministry of Works staff repaired the breach in the stopbank at Hermitage -through which the water was flowing to flood the Stirling-Kaitangata-Lovell’s Flat basin. Work in South Otago is now being concentrated on the gap in the stop-bank at the northern end of Inch Clutha Island. Ministry of Works staff will assist Otago Catchment Board men to close this break, which is about 100 yards wide.

Large areas of South Otago are still under water, but now that the Hermitage stop-bank has been sealed, it is rapidly draining away. Families are beginning to move back into their sodden homes, and to salvage what they can from the wreckage left by the flood waters. Central Otago lakes are still high, and the present river flow at Balclutha of about 60.000 cubic feet of water a second will probably be maintained for another week.

The Balclutha Borough Council staff pumped water from lowlying areas in the town today and the water across the main road in the town fell considerably. Four Army Matador trucks, with articulated trailers, were used today to carry stock feed to Inch Clutha island. The feed was stockpiled and distributed to stock isolated, oy the floodwaters. Lake Levels Down The weather in Central Otago yesterday was cold and overcast. Rain and snow fell on the higher country throughout the day. Lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu fell a little today. In Queenstown, water has disappeared from the streets along the waterfront and access to shops is now clear, but the promenade wharf is still under water, and several smaller wharfs have been seriously damaged. Water is still over the road in Wanaka and cars are forced to make a detour when passing through the town. The jetty is now appearing above the water. Heavy rain fell in Roxburgh today and snow fell on the tops yesterday morning. The weather cleared slightly in the afternoon. Voting papers were distributed by boat today to 24 adults isolated on Inch Clutha island. They will be collected in the same way on Saturday.