Clutha, Rising Slowly, Nearing Flood Level

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 10

Clutha, Rising Slowly, Nearing Flood Level

: (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 27. Hundreds of volunteers were standing by tonight ready for any emergency as the Clutha river continued to rise, and a flood of similar proportions to that of last month threatened.

Tonight, the river level was only three feet below the previous disastrous peak.

Heavy rain has fallen in the back country in ihe last few days and today a steady drizzle continued. Water rushed through Roxburgh Hydro at about 60,000 cusecs about 6 p.m. and was expected to increase to about 80,000 cusecs.

Since ■ early this morning the volunteers have worked to protect low-lying areas around Inchclutha from flooding. Concentrating their efforts along the river road leading to Weir’s Gap, the men placed a barricade of sandbats in front of houses, and using huge trucks slowly raised the level of the causeway across the gap.

Otago Catchment Board officers warned residents of the danger anil advised immediate evacuation of families and of stock. At 6 p.m. evfry precaution had been taken anji the volunteer parties stood by watching the river as it rose. Weir’s Gap is probably the key point of the battle. Only a few days ago workmen finished the 45(|ft causeway across the gap to Inchclutha and cut off water flowing over 9000 acres of farmland.

With water lapping only three feat from the top this afternoon, ths big question was. whether the causeway would hold.

Truck after truck poured rock on to the stop bank and a huge machine spread it over various weak points. But while work raising the bank was going on, water was seeping underneath into Inchclutha at the rate of 400 cusecs and a truck made countless journeys with loads of silt and clay to try to seal the bank. Half-a-mile away on the river road to the island workers placed protective mounds of sandbags before houses which only a month ago were two feet deep in water. The residents are calmly facing the threat of another flood. Two of them, Mr E. Thoroughgood and Mr G. Joyce, have taken no chances and today they evacuated their families. With volunteers they spent the day trying to safeguard their homes.

Stock losses are expected to be slight as plenty of warning has been given. All stock in the Inchclutha and Barnego Flat areas was shifted this afternoon.