WAIMAKARIRI RISES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28921, 15 June 1959, Page 10

WAIMAKARIRI RISES

Heavy Rain And Thaw A seven-foot rise in the Waimakariri river at the gorge was recorded at 12.30 p.m. yesterday afternoon after heavy rain and rapid thaw of snow in the Canterbury ranges and high-country areas during Friday and Saturday, About 10 inches of rain was recorded in the headwater* of the Waimakariri river, in 40 hour*, and for the second time within a week the Arthur’s Pass route to the West Coast has been closed, again at Candy's Bend, because of major slips and falling boulder* from incessant rain and thaw conditions. More than six inches ot rain was recorded at Arthur’s Pase from Saturday morning until yesterday morning, when the weather cleared. Light rain began to tall again about 5 p.m. yesterday. Flood conditions in the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivbrs were reported by the chief engineer of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr H. M. Reid) last evening. The weather cleared in the ranges early yesterday morning, with little further rain being recorded during the day, but the Waimakariri river reached its peak of seven feet at the gorge shortly after midday yesterday. The level at the gorge fell gradually throughout the rest of the day and night. The peak of the flood reached the Waimakariri traffic bridge about 8.30 p.m. when a rise ot about five feet was registered. The waters maintained a high level until after midnight, being contained by the rising tide, which reached its highest level, about 11.45 p.m. Catchment Board officers Inspected stopbanks and other works on both banks of the river above the highway bridge, but reported no damage. The flood was not expected to give any trouble, said Mr Reid. Pass Route Closed ' The Arthur’s Pass road has been closed since Saturday. The heavy rain has made whole hillside* waterlogged and in an unstable state, with frequent falls of boulders. The major slip occurred at Candy’s Bend, near the Otira Gorge, at the point where the road was cut after the heavy rain and thaw last week. A slip about a chain wide has occurred at this point, and there is also the added danger from falling rock. The route may be restored this morning. Portions of the road between the Arthur’s Pass township and the summit of the pass were badly cut up from surface water flowing across the road, and in several parts rocks are still falling on to the road after being dislodged from the steep faces above. One car was damaged from a fall of rock in this area. The road through the Buller gorge was also closed throughout Saturday night after a *Up had occurred, but the route was restored again early yesterday morning.

Christchurch Weather The prevailing north-westerly conditions which brought the bad conditions in the ranges, gave Christchurch a return to warm temperatures over the week-end. and many persons were attracted out-of-doors. On Saturday, only eight day* from the shortest day, the highest maximum temperature for the month—6s degrees—was recorded, and the weather continued warm from an early hour yesterday. At 6 a.m. yesterday the temperature was 52 degrees, at 9 a.m. it was 50.2 degrees, at midday 80.4 degrees, at 3 p.m. 59 degrees, and at 6 p.m. 48.7 degrees. At 9 pm. the temperature was 41-5 degree*.