RIVERS FALL AGAIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 10

RIVERS FALL AGAIN

Rakaia Rose 9ft

Most Canterbury rivers have fallen to near their normal height after having risen several feet because of heavy rainfall in the alps and foothills.

The North Canterbury Catchment Board’s chief engineer (Mr H. M. Reid) said yesterday that at the Waimakariri gorge the river rose by sft 6in, reaching its peak between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturday. At the highway bridge it rose 4ft 6in.

Rainfall at Arthur’s pass for the 24-hour period to 8 a.m. on Saturday was 6.21 in. but yesterday was fine, cloudy, and with a southerly blowing

The Rakaia river rose by Oft at the Rakaia gorge and reached its peak about 4 a.m on Sunday. There was only a rise of a few feet at the mouth because the river cut another mouth through the shingle bar. The Automobile Association (Canterbury) yesterday leported that no roads were closed. The Otira gorge was closed for some time on Saturday morning but was cleared by 10.30 a.m. The Weather Office at Harewood said that in the 24-hour period to 9 a m. yesterday. only ,05in was recorded at the airport and no rainfall was recorded at Hokitika U.9sin in the previous 24-hour period), nor at Lake Coleridge (1.39 in in the previous 24-hour period).