Severe Otago Flooding

Press, Volume C, Issue 29570, 20 July 1961, Page 14

Severe Otago Flooding

(N.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN, July 19. Floods hit Otago and North Otago at three points today, causing thousands of pounds of damage to roads, bridges, and acres of farmland.

A volunteer river patrol was watching the west bank of the raging Taieri river late tonight as floodwaters threatened about 7000 acres of valuable farm land. About 24 hours previously the river ripped a 50-yard gap on the east bank at Riverside. More than 4000 acres were inundated, roads blocked to depths of five feet and at least one farmer was forced to leave his property. The river is steady at Outram bridge at 18ft 2in—l9in below the peak level of 1957. Otago Catchment Board and Taien River Trust officers are on the alert. The high tide level is expected soon after midnight and the situation coulu be critica'. Stock losses are reported to be slight Farmers received plenty of time to move them to higher ground. The road to Outram from Mosgiel is blocked at the Outram bridge by about sft of water. On the other side the access route to Outram

| from Allanton is blocked at the Allanton bridge by about 2ft of water. In North Otago, a number of homes were evacuated when the Kakanui river rose near Maheno to unprecedented levels. Stock losses in North Otago were hard to assess but it is feared they will be heavy. Many farmers have been unable to reach their stock to check. Rail traffic south of Dunedin was completely disrupted when water covered the line at Allanton to a depth of one foot Passengers on the southward bound express were taken from Dunedin to Milton by bus. The line to Central Otago was blocked first by a washout and later by a slip. Passengers and essential supplies were being taken by road. Taieri Airport was again closed aH day and Dunedin flights operated in and out of Invercargill. There is no hope of the airport being open today, a spokesman said Tonight both the Main North and South roads from Dunedin were blocked by water.

Light traffic travelling north of Palmerston relied on heavy trucks to tow it through the Shag river at Bushey. By the afternoon holes and slabs of uprooted tarseal made the crossing hazardous. Water banked up against the cars near the vnndow level. The Main South road became impassable after 8 p.m. when the Taieri river spilled on to the road at Otokia, south of Allanton.

Heavy scouring has been reported on the Pigroot which has been closed all day. Last week there were reports of a slip in the vicinity of Green valley. At least three bridges and the approaches to nine others have been washed away in the Maniototo county by the Kyeburn river. The Maniototo County Council has set up a flood control base at Kakonga—about 13 miles from Ranfurly. The town has been particularly bard hit by floods and 10 men using a bulldozer are ripping up School road and using the spoil to build a stop bank.