FLOOD HAVOC

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 187, 7 May 1934, Page 10

FLOOD HAVOC

Phenomenal Rainfall in Canterbury VALLEYS LAID WASTE Banks Peninsula Farms Ruined LAND STRIPPED OF SOIL Settlers Compelled to Leave Homes By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Hay 6. Disastrous floods occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning in the valleys and flats on the southward slopes of Banks Peninsula. The total fall in Christchurch was about four inches, the heaviest rain for four years at least, but phenomenal falls were recorded at Motukarara inches) and at Akaroa (11.43 inches). On the hilltops the fall must have been much heavier. Most of the heaviest rain fell in the M. 1 t?:irl.y hours of Saturday morning. In ’ the city the damage was negligible. The Heathcote River, held back by a high tide, stopped the outfall of two storm-water drains, and this led to streets being lightly flooded. Moorhouse Avenue and Spreydon were the parts most affected. When the tide receded and the rain slackened at about noon -on Saturday, ceasing altogether at 4 o’clock, the storm waters soon disappeared. None of the large rivers, which are snow-fed, flooded at all, and other rain-fed streams on the plains, while in a heavy state, did no damage. Valleys Laid Waste. The excessive floods on the limited area below Banks Peninsula were caused by a rainstorm of extreme severity early on Saturday morning. Two beautiful little valleys, Price’s Valley and Kaituna Valley, were laid waste on the lower levels by raging' floods on the hill-tops and the southern slopes. » A terrific deluge caused a phenomenal run-off into the valleys, and little streams, which ordinarily wind slowly 'to Lake Ellesmere, became fierce, swift torrents, sweeping all before them. In Price’s Valley six small bridges were either swept away or were damaged and had the approaches scoured out. Roads where the current had passed over them were stripped of shingle and turned into watercourses. Whole areas of tilled land were completely stripped of soil. One settler lost a field of eleven acres of potatoes ready for digging. Not only were the potatoes washed out. but all the soil aiso. The main road to Little River runs round the base of the hills past the months of these valleys. The road was deeply flooded yesterday, and was still impassable to-day. The pressure of the flood waters coursing down from the valleys above caused several wash-outs in the Little River railway line fringing the lake, which acted as a stopbank. A small train was isolated. It passed over a culvert and its weight shook it in its already weakened condition, and it was promptly washed away. A few chains further on the train was slopped by a washout, so that it had to stay on its little island. The carriages have since been removed. A repair gang packed the culvert temporarily and the carriages were brought to the city, but the engine still remains there. The whole line ' is covered with debris, mostly logs- and boulders, and will not be clear until to-morrow. At Little River, a low-lying township at the head of Lake Forsyth, the water rose to the level of the railway station platform before it receded. On the main road through the township the water ran in a five-knot current at a depth of two or three feet. Several houses were flooded, and families had to be rescued in the early hours. Damage Severe. Little news is yet available from the township, but it is stated the damage is severe and that stock losses are also serious. .But for the low level of both Lake Forsyth and Lake Ellesmere, which allowed the flood waters to get away, the damage would have been much lucre severe. On the slopes where this torrential rain fell the land rises from the plain fairly steeply to a height of 3000 feet, so that the extreme precipitation of moisture caused the floods to rise with alarming suddenness. Phenomenal rains fell at Motukarara—l2 inches —and at Akaroa the fall was 11.43 inches. On the hilltops, where no records are available, the fall must have been.even heavier. At Little River the following families had to leave their homes: ■Withers, Dawber, Louden. Rout. W. Leutli waite, J. Keenan, Breitmeyer, Ferris, Paterson, and Mould. In the Kaituna Valley the families of A. Stephens, S. Turner, T. L. Lamport, A. Marsh, and SV. Parkinson had to ■ leave, and in Price’s Valley SV. A. Gray, J. R. Parrish. At Peraki Commander S. Hall had to leave his home. His tennis court, garden and shrubbery were swept away. At Te Oke Mr. Gordon Murray had his cow bails and chaff house moved some chains away; he has lost ail his winter feed. Many of these settlers have lost live stock, but it is impossible yet even to estimate the total loss. The carcases of calves, sheen, pigs and hens lie scattered in the valleys, but the total number may not be calamitous. FENCES ALL GONE Valley Covered With Silt and Debris SCENE OF DEVASTATION Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, May 6. Not a single fence remains in Price’s Valley; all have been either laid flat or washed away. The whole valley is covered with silt, boulders, logs, and other debris. In Kaituna Valley, where the farmers are mainly graziers, the loss of fencing Is not so severe, but the scene of devastation is equally depressing. Mr. A. Stephens, who lives at the *

mouth of the Kaituna Valley, escaped from his home at 5 o'clock yesterday morning, witli his wife and four children, the oldest 4 years, when the water had risen to 2 feet in his house. He had to wade through water up to „ his shoulders to carry his family to safety. Mr. Sydney Turner, a near neighbour of Mr. Stephens, had only a few inches of flood water in his house, but was surrounded, though he was in little danger. Mr. T. L. Lamport and his family had to remain in the house while the floods rose round him, because lie is isolated in the middle of the valley. However the water rose only a few inches above the floors. Twenty Pigs Drowned. When Mr. A. March, halfway up the Kaituna Valley, was awakened there was a foot of water in the iwu.se. He was surrounded by the flood and cotiol not leave. About 20 pigs were drowned in the styes near his house, but his cattle escaped. An attempt was made to rescue this family, whose plight looked serious. A boat was secured, but the current was so swift that it was found impossible to reach them. The boat now lies high and dry on the slopes cf the hill some distance above the road, an excellent indication of the highwater mark of the flood. Mr. W. Parkinson, owner of a big ' estate at the head of Kaituna Valley, is a heavy loser. He has lost at least 100 sheep, some cattle, and some hundreds of pounds’ worth of crops On ; the road approaching his house there is' a big slip, and two private bridges were i washed away. In Price’s Valley, which is mainly given over to cropping, it is not expected that the stock losses will prove heavy, though it is impossible yet to estimate them, as all fences' were destroyed. Stock for the most part got away to the hillsides and safety. One whole herd of 87 dairy cows escaped in this way. Mr. W. A. Gray left his house with his family and spent some anxious hours before daylight in the woolshed. His farm is now a sorry sight, almost covered with boulders washed down from slips higher up. There will be no easy communication with the top of Price’s Valley for weeks. The stream has changed its course in several places, washing away valuabD land. Indeed, the whole valley looks a desolate ruin. Sufferings of Residents. At Little River the people of the township spent a miserable day yesterday. The floods made it impossible for provisions to be purchased or delivered, and the wretched people had to endure a lack of food as well as other discomforts. The electric power failed also, and was not restored until 4.30 this afternoon. The Little River Domain, which is the recreation centre of the village, is now covered by 18. inches of silt, and there are few fences in the lower areas of the township. * AU the adults of the settlement were called out early on Saturday to rescue sheep which had been overtaken by the flood. This operation was very successful, as very few were lost. Akaroa reports very heavy rain and high floods, but little damage. There have been, of course, many slips on the roads and hillsides. RAIN IN OTAGO Heavy, But No Flooding Dominion'" Special Service. Dunedin, May C. For more than forty-eight hours continuous rain has been experienced in Otago, but practically no damage has been report I. The rain was at its heaviest for two hours last night, and although there was an easing this morning the Forbury Park course was in such an atrocious condition that the stewards decided not to race to-day, the concluding day of the meeting being postponed till Tuesday. All other outdoor sports fixtures, except first grade Soccer matches, were also postponed. Since the rain started on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. nearly three inches has fallen. The reading at 9 a.m. to-day at the Musselburgh pumping station was I.lBin. for the twenty-four hours. The Leith was fairly high last night, but the level had fallen this morning. The stream has not banked up at any stage to a height to cause alarm to nearby residents. The bad weather has not held up the train services. The only slip was a small one at Poolburn, on the Central Otago line, which was cleared without delay. In keeping with the surrounding country, Taieri got a good soaking yesterday, but there was no serious flooding. The rain was much lighter in the city and country.districts this morning, and as the day advanced the. conditions showed a general improvement. The indications to-night were that the weather was likely to be more settled. ROADS BLOCKED Akatarawa and Happy Valley EFFECT OF HEAVY RAINS The heavy rain over the week-end has been responsible for some blockages on roads near Wellington. On Saturday a slip came down on the Akatarawa Road, which is now blocked, but if the weather is suitable a start will probably be made to-day with the job of clearing away the spoil. At Porirua a temporary bridge almost in the township itself, erected adjacent to a hew bridge in course of construction, sank about a foot owing to flooding of the river. The contractor placed heavy planking on the partly-constructed new bridge, enabling traffic, both heavy and light, to get through. The approaches to the bridge are fairly rough and caution needs to be exercised. j A slip came down on the Happy Valley Road about half a mile from Brooklyn, and the road is consequently closed for traffic. RAIN IN MANAWATU ' Fall of Half an Inch Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, May 6. Heavy rain fell in Palmerston North yesterday at frequent periods, and during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. this morning a fall of .58 inches was recorded at Terrace End by Mr. T. R. Moore. Playing fields were sodden yesterday, but the sports fixtures were proceeded with, ns the weather improved in the afternoon. The Manawntu River was running at a level of seven feet yesterday morning, but commenced to fall slowly in the afternoon. At noon to-day the level was six feet and a halt.