SEA OVER HIGHWAY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29800, 17 April 1962, Page 14

SEA OVER HIGHWAY

Damage At Timaru (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU. April 16. Not for 10 years or more has the South Canterburv coastline received such a pounding as it did today. At Otaio. 14 miles south of Timaru on the main south highway, there was about 3in of sea water over the road for 40 to 50 yards. The Ministry of Works placed warning signs on the road. No trouble was expected. said the secretary of the Automobile Association South Canterbury (Mr G. R Thompson). At 3 p.m.. the water was 3ft below the level of the railway line. Earlier, there was seawater across the road at Horseshoe bend. Huge seas cascaded over the eastern extension of the harbour and the heavy swell spent itself along the foot of Benvenue Cliffs and Dashing Rocks in towering sheets of spray. The harbourmaster (Captain A. Grieve) decided against attempting to take the 6497-ton vessel. Arabic, out after he had gone out in the pilot launch beyond the harbour entrance. The Tanea and Gale also remained in port. The Timaru Harbour Board’s engineer (Mr B. W Charman) said it appeared that rocks had been shifted on the eastern extension Along the entire length of the extension the sea had washed out ballast. The force of the seas had sheared bolts and welding off the protective sheet piling where reclamation had taken place on the Caroline Bay side of the north mole, said Mr Charman.