THREAT AT KAINGA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 8

THREAT AT KAINGA

Police Evacuate Homes

Nearly 40 men, women and children were rescued from flooded homes in Kainga late last night by policemen who were assisted by army utility vehicles and trucks. They were taken to the Brooklards hall, which is being used a r a “refugee centre,” according to Inspector C. H. Reardon, of the Christchurch Central Police Station. “It was a splendid co-ordina-tion of the two services—army and police,” said Inspector Reardon this morning. “Seeing is believing. It was a wonderful job.” Evacuation of the houses, which was superintended by Inspector Reardon and Inspector J. C. Fletcher, of Christchurch, was completed soon after midnight when the last two families in the area were taken to Brooklands.

Inspector Fletcher said that the water from the flooded Waimakariri river was entering the Kainga area rapidly. There had been a rise of ft in the four hours before midnight and the water had gone about a quarter of a mile over the south bank.