FLOOD THREAT RELIEVED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 8

FLOOD THREAT RELIEVED

Hokitika River Clears Mouth (From Out Own Reporter) HOKITIKA, Sept. 16. About 10 o’clock last night the Hokitika river burst through the huge sandbank which had partially blocked its mouth for some weeks, and relieved the flood threat to the town. With the heavy rain, which fell throughout the night, anxiety increased as owners of business premises in the town watched the floodwaters rising in the streets. The river breached the sandbank shortly before the flood waters from the hills reached the lower levels, and the oncoming rush of water quickly scoured out the channel to form the widest river mouth seen for soma- time# in spite of the action ‘of'■ the heavy seas pounding the coastline.

Although the cutting of the channel relieved the flooding in the business area, the water was still rising in the residential area of Weld street, as floodwaters coming down the river forced their way up the drains. ' The Hokitika Revue Company’s show in the Princess Theatre was interrupted to allow motorists to move their cars from Hamilton street, which was finally closed to traffic at 11 p.m. Water did not enter any shops. Some flooding has been reported in the Kokatahi-Kowhiti-rangi area, where one settler reported that he had never seen so much surface water. In the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. today 2.56 inches of rain fell in the Hokitika area, but much heavier rain fell at Kowhitirangi, where 4.90 inches was recorded. Intermittent rain continued to fall today, but there were no indications of further flooding in the low lying areas of the town. Fishermen are hopeful that there will be better prospects for whitebait as a result of the scouring of the river mouth. HUSBANDS’ AND WIVES’ GUIDE A frank and confidential bookie! for married people vnly Sent it. plain wrapper free Write today GEORGE BETTLE, Chemist, 125 Victoria street, Christchurch I -Ad vt

time, particularly at holiday periods, to work associated with building and repairing club huts during the year, was expressed in the report by the president (Mr J. F. Hayes). Club huts worked on during the year included the Three Johns hut. on the Barron saddle in the Mount Cook area which it was hoped to complete by this Christmas, and the Wyn Irwin hut. It would be necessary to build a small shed on to the Wyn Irwin hut to house fuel supplies and a generator plant. • . Runholders Thanked The report thanks back-country run-holders who allow members access to the mountains through their properties, and the rangers at Mount Cook and Arthur's Pass for their interest in the club’s activities and their assistance. During the last year the club continued to be actively associated with the search and rescue organisation, members being called upon four times to help in rescue work, the report says. Twenty-one members were elected during the year, and the club’s membership now stood at 394.