WAIMAKARIRI IN FLOOD

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 14

WAIMAKARIRI IN FLOOD

Peak Reached Last Night The Waimakariri river was in light flood last night after a rainfall of 7Jin at Arthur’s Pass in the 24 hours to 8 a.m. yesterday. The river rose to a peak of about sft at the' Gorge bridge soon after 3 p.m., and the peak of the flood was expected to reach the Main North road bridge just before midnight. Further rain is expected in the high country and the river will probably be in fresh for several days. The North Canterbury Catchment Board issued flood warnings to farmers with properties bordering the river and to shingle contractors working in the river bed. The river began to rise at 4 a.m. at the Waimakariri Gorge bridge and by noon it was 4ft 6in above normal and still rising. It was still rising steadily at Arthur’s Pass last evening and 1.75 in of rain had fallen during the day.

There have been northwesterly conditions at Arthur's Pass for the last week. At the week-end and on Monday, about 2sin of rain fell. The rainfall to date at Arthur’s Pass this year is 92in, compared with the 165 in recorded in the same period last year. The last heavy falls of rain were 4in in the first week in August and 6in on June 13.