STORM AND FLOOD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 6

STORM AND FLOOD.

RAIN AND SNOW IN THE SOUTH,

TRAIN AND COACH SERVICES

BLOCKED. TRYING EXPERIENCRS. From Friday until 2 o'clock ou Tues* tiny morning i\ inches of rain fell ia Christcliureh. The rain, which was. at times very heavy,, was general throughout tho province, but in sonic places outside Christcliureh it was of tho naluro of a deluge, mill some districts have buffered severely. Telegraphic communication with the North Island has been lacking since, about midday on Holiday.

The following are summaries of the reports from various country districts:—: On banks' Peninsula the rainfall was tho heaviest experienced since lg'JO. Between midnight on Saturday and 7.30 p.m. on .Monday over 12 inches had been recorded in tho Government gauge. The creeks at Akaroa overflowed their banks, and houses m tho immediate vicinity were flooded, as also were mnnv in the lower parts of the town, where tho water channels proved inadequate to carry the torrents from tho hills. Slips are reported from all parts of tho Peninsula, several of the main roads being in a deplorable condition. The mail conch'wis blocked by ii slip near Akaroa, whilst returning from Little River, and had to be abandoned, the mails being taken on bv horse. The flood at Little River 'is .one of the heaviest known in tho township. The station yard was submerged to a depth of two feet, and the railwav track was covered in several places. The weather i was bitterly cold, and tho tops of tho mountains wero coated wtih snow. , The northern express from Culverden to I Christcliureh did "not reach Christcliureh till after 11.30 p.m. on' Monday, beiiiß over four hours late. The delay was caused through numerous washouts along tho railway line, principally in the Sefton district, one of theso being three miles in length.Tho motor-car from H'anmer failed to connect with tho train at Waikari, and the passengers in all probability would havo to spend tho night at Waikari.

Heavy Snowfall. In the western district towards Springfield and the 'ranges snow fell heavily. Towards noon on Monday heavy, ram again commenced (o fall, and tho snow was soon washed away. The rapid melting of tho snow and tho heavy rain made matters look ominous for a few hours, tho ordinary water-races and channels became blocked with a mass of soft, slushy snow, washed down from tho higher lcvela and Ihis becamo piled up at every bridgo or culvert, tho consequence being that tho storm-water overflowed and raced clown roads and paddocks in rivers. For a timo at Darficid.matters looked rather serious, the big water-race, completely blocked with snow, turned the flood-watera over tho roads, a considerable volume finding its way through tho township aud railway yard. A gang -of railway men, however, managed to clear the race a little, aud prevented any serious flooding. As night camo on, further heavy rain set in, and as it was raining on top of tho heavy snowfall, there is still a danger of floods.

Very heavy weather was experienced in Mid aud South Canterbury. and at Methvdii at midday on Monday the snow lay twelve inches deep, and it was still'snowine;, Tho telephone wires were down in every'direction, and communication with Christchureh and Ashburton was cut oft'. The water-race which runs through Methven township was completely fill- • cd with snow, aud the water was running over, and tho township was flooded. . WASH-OUTS AND LANDSLIPS. THE.TRAIN SERVICE. (By Teleeraph—Press Association.) ' Christchureh, July 28. The railway authorities report that through communication on the north line has been restored, communication on the midland branch is still interrupted, and, from present indications, is likely to remain so. for about a week. Several washouts have occurred between Avoca and Broken River, and a somewhat heavy landslip is reported to have taken place near one of the tunnels. _ • Mr. C. 11. Biss, district engineer, leases this evening to ascertain the full extent t of the damage done to tho line. It is expected that passengers from the West Coast to-day will be conveyed on tho railway from Cass to Avoca, and from< the la'st-mentioued station by coach to Springfield. Tho postal authorities aro endeavouring to arrange with.tho Railway Department to run a train to Broken River.to-rncrroiv (Thursday), whore special coaches will.bo held to convey mails and passengers to Otira, where it is anticipated connection with tho Greymoutk train will bo made.