Widespread Flooding In North Otago

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31700, 8 June 1968, Page 1

Widespread Flooding In North Otago

(Neus Eeatand Press AnoctaSSon) DUNEDIN, June 7. la pouring rain, with reports of flooding in many parts of the province, Otago tonight feared a week-end similar to that at Easter.

In North Otago, the family of Mr C. Fraser, at Maheno, was taken from their home this evening. About 4ft of water was running through their house. Two more families in the township were preparing to leave their homes tonight.

Late tonight Oamaru was cut off from other parts of Otago by road. The main highway was blocked by up to two feet of water south of Oamaru, and was cut off to the north.

The highway from Oamaru to Kurow was blocked by flood waters about two feet deep. The latest reports Indicated that Oamaru and parts inland seemed to be hardest hit by the continuous rain, which was falling on land saturated by rain over recent weeks. This is ironic in North Otago, where many farmers were asking for drought relief at the beginning of the year. Oamaru Airport, closed today because of surface water, reported that 2.04 in fell in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. This took the total for the six days this month to 2.79 in, and for this year to 21.08 i a marked contrast to the 16.89 in for all last year. More than 2.5 in of rain fell in Dunedin during the week, and today many slips were reported in the hill suburbs and the peninsula. A bad slip on the Dunedin-Portobello Road has left a house in Ivanhoe Road perched above the road. The house is not occupied. MORVEN, TOO More than 2.5 in of rain, generally confined to coastal areas, has fallen at Morven,

"The Press” reporter at Timaru advises.

Flooding on the main railway line between St Andrews and Studholme caused some delays in passenger services between Christchurch and Dunedin tonight The rail-car from Christchurch stopped at St Andrews and the rail-car from Dunedin stopped at Studholme while passengers covered the journey between by bus. Passengers from Dunedin, who usually arrive in Christchurch at 11.35 pan., arrived an hour and a half late. Goods trains were not affected.

South Canterbury rivers were not up and there was no concern at present the South Canterbury Catchment Board's chief engineer (Mr T. L. Fancourt said this evening.

So far this year more than 18in of rain baa been recorded in Timaru, compared with 7.35 in for the same period last year.