STORM IN CANTERBURY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 10

STORM IN CANTERBURY

WIDESPREAD HAVOC

WATER INVADES HOUSES

(By Tolegraph.) (Special to "Tho Evening Post.")

CH.RISTCHUKCII, This Day

Nearly every part of the Canterbury coast Buffered yesterday from the oft'ects of exceptionally big tides, combined with swollen rivers and a tcrriiie sou'-westor gale. Water poured across the sod bank along the Avon in the Bexley district, at New Brighton, and inundated the country, causing considerable damage. Seaside resorts suffered, shipping was delayed, telephone communication upset, and minor daraago done generally in town and country. Several small pleasure boats are missing from Lyttelton.

An exceptionally high spring tide backing' up the waters of the swollen Avon, resulted in the river overflowing its banks in the Bexlcy district, with the result that tho very low-lying land was soon submerged to a depth in places of three or four feet. The water rose rapidly after 5 a.m., and entered many of the houses on the lower levels, forcing residents Iturriodly to vacate their properties. It is estimated that hundreds of pounds' worth of damage was caused by the invasion of the water in this small area. Many residents awoke in the morning to find themselves marooned in their houses, and drays and milk carts were requisitioned to 'assist in the rescue of those cut off by tho flood. The district presented a desolate scene later.ill the morning, sheets of deep water "covering paddocks and roads oVer a wide area. The water soon rose to the height of a foot and eighteen inches in some of the houses, and residents, in some cases in gumboots and even in bathing costumes, sought dry ground, the menfolk carrying the women and girl members of their families on their backs.' Much damage was done in some houses, large quantities of silt being left by the receding flood. Before leaving their homes many I families took the precaution of lifting such valuable articles of furniture as pictures and gramophones on to chairs or .tables. v STOCK AND CROPS SUITER. Many people were concerned as to the safety of their live stock, and considerable difficulty was experienced in shifting cows and horses to places of safety. One resident lost almost the entire stock of his poultry' farm, numbering about throe hundred. Potato crops and other vegetables in the area were covered with water, and in some cases they will be destroyed. In the morning a shallow. cut was made in the river bank, and this, with the flood' relief gates, helped to drain the paddocks, and roads

At Sumner the train bridge suffered, severely from the buffeting of ' the waves. At Scarborough the sea eainc over the sandhills and strewed the esplanade with seaweed and. driftwood. The Clifton Esplanade was undermined by tho force of the waves, and at North Beach, New Brighton, serious damage occurred in front of the Peace Memorial Hall, the stone wall being destroyed for a length of about 18ft. At the south end this wall, which was built about two years ago, consisted of a concrete foundation sft deep and about 4ft of stone work on top. It was built for protective purposes.

Kairaki and Waikuku, near Kaiapoi, got the full force of the storm and tho high tides: At Kairaki the Waimakariri, backed up by the tide, • overflowed, ihe water entering some of the cottages. At 2 o'clock yesterday morning the V.M.C.A. camp awoke to find three or four, feet of water around them. They made their escape to adjoining huts in pyjamas.

The sea broke through the sandhills and flowed back to the river, turning the lower portion of the settlement into an island. Campers leaving Waikuku early yesterday morning had an adventurous time. Water flowed over the road, and for some time oars were unablo to get through. The seas came up the beach to a point seldom reached by them before, and occupants of some of the huts were amazed to find them surrounded by water <vhen they awoke.

The electrical staff of the Public Works Department was working practically all Thursday night attending to the electric light lines.

Minor mishaps occurred in different parts of the city and suburbs, the most serious being when a windmill fell across somo wires. Trees were blown down in some places, while the gale gave gardens which were exposed a thrashing. Small craft at Eedcliffs and Lyttelton had a bad time, several being sunk and reported missing. SHEEP PERISH. About a hundred newly shorn sheep perished miserably in the Addingtoii Saleyards during Wednesday night. Left there after the sale on Wednesday, they were huddled together in their pens when the storm that had been gathering from ■the ' south.east burst in a torrent of rain which^ unlike an ordinary summer. downpour, descended in. wind-blown sheets all night and through the morning. It told its tragic tale when an investigation revealed the rain-sodden carcasses that spelt a heavy loss to the purchasers whose responsibility they were. The sheep were valued, at approximately 25s per .head, so the loss is not a slight one. Considerable damage to telephone and telegraph lines was done by the storm, and communication with Little Eiver and Akaroa was cut off entirely, owing to a break in the line near Little River". All the other main lines of telegraph communication withstood, the storm, but large numbers*of subscribers' telephone connections were affected. The weather was boisterous, with frequent showers yesterday, but late in the afternoon conditions greatly improved, and there is every indication of fine weather following. The extent of the damage to crops will depend on the conditions during the next /few days, although the losses are certain to be heavy in some districts. Snow fell in the foothills for a time, but did not last long, and it will do some days before the losses of sheep in the hilly country will be known. WEATHER CLEAR AGAIN. , The weather to-day is clear and sunny and the forecasts promise a continuation of fair conditions. During the storm of the previous two days considerable damage was done along the seafront. At North Beach, about eighteen feet" of stone sea wall was destroyed. The wail was erected two years ago, and, as it had a concrete foundation five feet in depth, with stone work' four feet high, it was considered to be a good protection.