OTAGO FLOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 8

OTAGO FLOODS

WATER SUBSIDING

DAMAGE AT TAIERI

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, May 10,

The general appearance of the Taieri Plains today suggested little or no change in the position, but the cessation of rains for several hours had had an effect, and the river and flood waters alike show signs of subsiding. With the fall of the lovel of the surface water on some of the higher parts of the country, it is apparent that the greater proportion of the land flooded has suffered less damage than at first appeared likely.

At the same; time, however, the situation today emphasised with even greater force the grave plight of the district. On the south and west side of the river the losses have been very heavy in stock and property, arid the possibility of a rapid return to normal on many of these farms is 1 remote.

City food supplies have not been as seriously affected by the floods as they might have been. Milk for town consumption has shown one of the most substantial reductions of all, one company alone having lost nearly 1000 gallons a day at a time of the year when supply is never over-generous. In this case, however, it was found possible to make up the deficiency from other districts. ...-■'...:.

There has been much speculation in the district during the past day or two, especially among ratepayers who contribute to the cost of flood protection, concerning the ' efficacy of the system of embankments.now in use in relation to the expenditure that has been involved. It is estimated that up to £275,000 has been spent on stopbanks and other preventive measures, and, as one settler said today, ratepayers were given to understand that the system was flood-proof.

It is agreed that embankments are effective enough to meet all normal flooding of the river, but settlers maintain that, they should also be equal to any abnormal condition that might arise. y