FLOODING IN BULLER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 10

FLOODING IN BULLER

Little Damage Reported

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, May 2. Although 3.83 inches of rain fell at Westport in 24 hours up to noon today, very little damage to roads or railways was reported. However, surface flooding was heavy in many places. No roads had been closed for very long up to this evening although several small slips fell in the Buller Gorge, one taking about an hour to clear.

There was water over the Westport-Granity road in places.

A coal train was held up for some time on the West-port-Seddonville railway section. On leaving Westport the train crew found creeks running high in the vicinity of Waimangaroa, and a mile past Birchfield a small bridge was submerged. It was considered too risky to atttempt a crossing and the train returned to Westport.

An inspection of the bridge will be made tomorrow. Houses Surrounded

Several sections of the State housing block at Westport, where flooding has often occurred in the past, were well covered by water for most of today. This morning there was a depth of 18 inches in the lower parts, and the water had extended almost to some doorsteps preventing many persons from leaving their homes. Quite a few children did not go to school.

The position was bad along Colvin and Rintoul streets, and in side streets, and even heavy motor vehicles found it difficult to get through the worst affected stretches. Taxi drivers would not take their ears through the flooded sections.

There was also much surface flooding in other parts of the town.

Those preparing for the game shooting season were concerned earlier this week about the possibility of water holes being dried up after a good spell of dry weather, but now conditions are' likely to be to the contrary with too much water about at present.

Road Badly Scoured .1,, District Engineer for the Ministry of Works (Mr J. Douglas) said late this afternoon that the MokihinuiKaramea road had been badly scoured and it might be necessary to close it tonight. He said that there had been a section of road washed away on Dublin terrace. and that could be verv troublesome The surface flooding in the country areas is the most extensive for many years Water was pouring over the road near Birchfield this afternoon, but not sufficient then to hold up traffic, while there was a serious washout in the Wareatea section. Containers For Beet— The Colotnbua Line of Hamburg will use special deck containers in two of Rs ships totoke chilled New Zealand beef to west coast American Ports. The ships are the Cap Ortega! and the Cap Finisterre.—(P.A.)