FLOOD NEAR HAVELOCK

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

FLOOD NEAR HAVELOCK

Road Blocked For 8 Hours

(from Our Own Reporter) BLENHEIM. May 2.

The main Blenheim-Nelson highway was closed to all traffic except buses and heavy trucks this afternoon wheii flood waters from the Wakamarino river overflowed on to the road about four miles north of Havelock. Flood waters began to subside at 7 p.m. and by about 10 p.m. the road was again open to private cars. The Automobile Association officer at Blenheim said a complete clearance of the flooded area was expected by the morning. Late this evening the weather had cleared in the district.

The river, swollen by heavy back country rain, began to seep across the road about 1 p m., and within half an hour there were three pockets of water about 100 yards long and up to 2ft 6in deep. By 2.30 p.m. north and southbound cars were held up each side of the flooded area. A few, towing caravans and not able to turn on the narrow road, were towed through the floodwater, which then was still rising at the rate of six inches an hour, by a Ministry of Works grader. The river, which joins the Pelorus and flows into the sea at Havelock, is tidal. Private cars travelling between Blenheim and Nelson this afternoon were diverted to the route through the Wairau valley and via Tophouse.