FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 8

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

SERIOUS POSITION IN NORTH CANTERBURY. SETTLERS ALARMED. fiOAD & RAILWAY COMMUNICATION CUT OFF. EXCITING RESCUES. (By Telcrraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, October 2-1. Tho severest flood in the river Waiffiakariri experienced for several years occurred to-day, the result of tho melting of the snow on tho Southern Alps by three days' nor'-westers and torrential rains in tho ranges. Tho time taken by the torrents from the hills to reach the sea is almost seventeen honrs, and eight feet above normal was recorded atßealey last night. It began to reach tho lower levels about 6 a.m., .and in a brief space the land abont Belfast that is within reach of the overflow was covered to a depth of Sft. 6in. at the Empire Bridge •when morning trains went out and camo in. Tho river at Stowarfs Gully was a roaring cataract, tho mnddy water carrying timber and rubbish and rolling its tremendous volume onwards as if it would carry .all before it. On the low land higher up than the Empire Bridge, the flood was a perfect eea, and beyond tho Belfast Hotel, when tho 8.30 o clock passenger train from EangioTa camo in tho flood was finding its way across tho North Road. It was beginning to flood tho paddocks, and it was expected that three vahiablo draught horses hemmed in by tho inundations would be lost. . Some drowned sheep wcno seen bemg carried down by tho flood at the Railway Bridge. The flood at 9.30 a.m. at Stewart's Gully Bridge was within 2ft. 6in. to 3ft. of the level on Juno 24, 1905, on tho date of the fatal train accident. . No water had found its way along tho railway lino, nor was there anything like tho quantity of water on the North Road there was on that occasion, tho flood having taken possession of tho river, which had from high-water at 6.15 a.m. till 3 p.m. a full run out to' sea, and when next tido makes, which is at high water about _ seven o'clock this evening, the swing which tho current has gained will prevent tho flood being' seriously affected from that causo. Rapidly Becoming Serious. The south branch of the river between Stewart's and Kaiapoi was in flood, but the branch at Kaiapoi was not seriously effected. Towards noon it was seen that the position was rapidly becoming serious, and when a reporter arrived at tho scene of the flood ho found tho residents in a state of alarm. The river since nine o'clock had risen with remarkable rapidity, and what was in tho morning thought to be only a 6ligkt flood threatened fast to become one of the most serious ones that had' befallen the district. At 1 p.m. communication by road between ChristchuTch and Kaiapoi was cut off, and an hour ox so later railway communication was rendered impossible. The banks of the river near Chancy s and Belfast appeared to be the scat of the trouble. Since noon the flood waters rose two feet, and this constitutes ■ a record. Between Belfast Hotel and Chaney's and the road near tho last-mentioned place bore the appearance of a second Waimakariri. The suddenness with which the flood rose resulted in a number of vehicles being stranded on what are ordinarily roadways. Exciting Incidents. Residents between Chany's and Belfast made preparations during the ■ afternoon to take leave of their dwellings. Two motor-cars, with two or three persons in them, were discerned • completely surrounded by flood water on the North Road, about a quarter to four in the afternoon. It was impossible to get within earshot of tho occupants of the cars. Some exciting rescues were made on the North Road. When the flood waters camo down a number of cyclists and pedestrians between Belfast and. Chaney's wero taken completely by surprise, and when the water came down were in sore straits. Some were clinging to fences and others climbed trees, and it was with difficulty that they were rescued. As they have found 'their way into neighbouring houses for shelter, it is impossible to ascertain whether any met with serious accidents. Tho driver of a spring dray, named N. M'Gninness, who was near the scene at the time, rescued no fewer than nine persons, some of whom wore in very precarious conditions.