LOSSES OF STOCK REPORTED

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 108, 8 May 1923, Page 4

LOSSES OF STOCK REPORTED

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED. .

f»T KLEGRAfB.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 7th.-May

I A record for over twenty years was j established by the rainfallffo r the 24 I hours ended at 9.30 a.m. to-day. The wetness of the year so far may be I judged from the total rainfall figures to [ date, which are: This year, 15.387 in; last year, 6.255 in. This year's rainfall to date is already over three-fifths of the total average annual rainfall for the last forty years. ' The rain resulted in the most extensive and disastrous flood in North Canterbury since the great flood of 1868. This morning people rose to find the rivers running bank high and flooding lo»-lying country with water iv. some places to a depth of four feet. . All the low-lying parts of Kaiapoi are under water, and in some cases water entered houses. The ' Eyre River rose during the night and overflowed its banks in several places, flooding Clarkeville. The main drain at Flaxton also overflowed, the flood waters covering most of the land between Flaxtoi) and the Cam River. Farmers are finding it necessary to remove their stock. The Rangiora gasworks is flooded, and the fires are out. There is only one night's supply of gas in the holders. Tie main streets of the town are more or less under water, th e footpaths being covered up to the shop fronts. The conditions in Amberley are very bad the township being flooded to a • considerable* depth. Water is over the crown of the main street to a depth of two feet, and business places and prij vate houses are flooded, thei'e being three and a half feet of water in the Railway Hotel. AD the low-lying land is inundated. Further north from Amberley the conditions are reported to be serious. There is a heavy flood in the Kowai. River, which burst its banks at Leithfield. Water was rushing through the town this morning along the Main North road, which is impassable. A number of houses were inundated. At Cheviot, since Friday and up till 8 o'clock this morning, 10.56 inches of rain fell, and from 8 a.m. on Sunday till 8 a.m. to-day 8.45 inches fell. All roads jn the district are impassable. The bridge at the mouth, of the Hurunui River, erected a few years ago by the Cheviot County Council, was swept out to sea. It connected parts of the Cheviot and Stonyhurst Estates. The river is in flood, the highest for thirty years. Water has entered some houses on low-lying areas. The floods and washouts have seriously interrupted the railway services in North Canterbury. No trains were run north of Rangiora 'this morning. Between Baloairn and Sefton the line is under water and damaged at three places. Between Amberley and Waipara the line is flooded and undermined at a number of places, rendering it unsafe for traffic. The country around Culverden is flooded, the station /yards being under water. On the Midland line a washout occurred on the Christchurch side of Springfield, which, prevented the morning train leaving Springfield for Christchurch. A big slip also occurred beyond Springfield, and the West Coast train may be unable to run tomorrow. Several families had to be rescued from their homes at Culverden, which is completely isolated to-day. In Amberley business houses were barricaded with sand bags at the" doorways, but the water triumphed and entered almost all business places, some to a depth of two feet. Heavy losses of stock are reported. In the Waiau district 9.50 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. The Waiau River is in heavy flood, but at present no accurate details as to the damage, which must be considerable, can .be obtained. The Cam Dairy Factory at Rangiora is -out of commission, there being 18 inches of-water, in the building.