OTIRA TOWNSHIP FLOODED

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

OTIRA TOWNSHIP FLOODED

River Diverted By Huge Slip (New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, December 27. A huge slip which fell into the Otira river on Thursday night diverted the river, in raging flood, through the Otira township and about half of the 48 houses have had to be evacuated. One house, occupied by Mr R. A. Parker and his family, was completely destroyed in the flood. Floodwaters, breaking through a groyne behind the Otira electric power sub-station, smashed into the house early this morning. Half of the building was swirled away and the other part is tilting badly over the river.

Today a fair quantity of water was pouring through the township side of the station and running t down the roadway.

The township was completely isolated, with the railway line blocked, the gorge road blocked and the road out between Kumara and Mitchells.

Mr J.. Turner, a clerk at the railway station,- said in a telephone conversation that many of

the residents were returning from helping to divert water at Goat creek—where the bridge approaches were washed away early yesterday morning—when a cry-

went up that water was coming down the railway line. The men ran back to their homes, where they were soon stranded -by the surging waters. At Mr Turner’s house, which is about one and a half feet above ground level, water rose to within' three inches of the floorboards. It was then that the house was evacuated. The water broke through a stopbank soon after 3 a.m., and built up around many of the houses. Several were threatened with flooding, and yesterday afternoon, water was scouring around the piles. Houses nearer the railway station were not so badly affected.

Water was still pouring through the Otira sub-station this afternoon. State Hydro-electric Department employees have left their homes, and are being accommodated in the Otira Hotel. Otira had about 12 inches of rain in 12 hours. Today the weather cleared to some extent, but by tea time it was raining lightly again. The power house, now out of action, provided the railways at Otira with its electricity, including the supply used to take trains through the tunnel. The district is without power, and last night only lamps and candles could be used. The evacuated families were . moved to higher buildings on the hillside, including the hotel, police station and post office.

Five double power poles were washed out at Goat* creek breaking the Coast’s power link with Lake Coleridge.