AT MOSGIEL

Evening Star, Issue 18257, 23 April 1923, Page 6

AT MOSGIEL

GENERAL FLOODING. [From Oan Own Correspondent.] While the Taieri is often subjected to a flood, it is not of a frequent occurrence :n Mosaic! town. The heavy rain yester day soon began to tell on’ the Owhiro Creek, which flows alongside the railway lino _and through the eastern part of the town! Early yesterday afternoon the water got over the banks and by nightfall had found_ its way into some of the houses. A similar occurrence was experienced in many dwellings on the opposite side of the town where the .Silvcrstream rims. .Some distance down the Silverstream the water was a foot deep in the dairy factory. Beyond much inconvoni- : once, no damage is reported. Practically all streets and roads arc subnyirgod at j some section or other, and pedestrian traffic is not possible. I On the plain quite a big flood has to bo reported ; but as long experience has taught the settlers to bo prepared, most of the stock was removed to higher country before any flooding took place. The Main South road is submerged at many points, where streams of water cross it , from the slopes of Saddle Hill. The I same thing applies to portions of Glad- | stone road. Some motorists from Brighton, who found it impossible to reach Dunedin by road, were stranded here last night, and finished their journey to Dunedin this morning by train. Tho weather and flooded roads put a stop to all outdoor appointments, notably ! the Anzac dedication ceremony at East Taieri Church. This had to be postponed till \\ednesday night. LATEST JOTTINGS. The Silvcrstream burst its banks on the north side of Gordon road, a little below the Outram railway line. The water crossed (lie road and filled the adjoining paddocks, surrounding the houses. Some of the people had to be assisted out. One woman remained until the water put out the fire in the range. This flooding, however, subsided to-day. J’he flood has subsided a little in the Mosgiel Dairy Factory, but the road adjoining is still under water. Riverside is badly flooded, and some of the settlers were obliged to leave their homes. Mr Kirkland, at Elm Grove, East Taieri, is having a bad time. Stock was shifted yesterday to a level that was considered safe, but the flooding during the ! night made even this haven useless. The [ cows were got out by means of a boat, but some six horses had to be left. is doubtful if they will be saved. Ihe i Taieri River is simply pouring over the | banks at Mr Kirkland’s, and filling up the adjoining lands. I Emir br>iks are reported in the contour channel along Maungatna, and as a result much flooding has occurred. _ _ _ '[’here are breaks in the West Taieri bank at Gibson’s and at Carmichael’s, and the water has not much to go to cross the bank at Mr John Young’s. At Outram bridge the water is up to the 18ft mark, with only about 1 Bin to go to be over the bank. The break at Gibson’s has eased that risk somewhat. The latest from Hindoo gives the river gauge 20ft, and still rising. Otokia reports severe flooding, but all stock are safe on the hills since yesterday. The main road is blocked foj all traffic at West Taieri bridge. Yesterday 3ft of water invaded Tver's Outram factory. Tiie weather has now cleared, and tho Mosgiel flood is falling. Practically everv bridge and culvert on the Taieri ’.Month road has been washed away, the only ones standing being those of recent erection. JOTTINGS. Tho St. George jam works had a good deal of evidence of" the flood to show this morning. Page of the footpath in London street collapsed on Sunday, allowing tons of water to escape into the, factory yards. This brought down earth with it, quickly blocking the factory drain traps, so that part of the stores was also flooded. There are probably thirty or forty cart loads of earth to be "shifted" from the factory yards. The position was greatly aggravated through the scarcity of drain traps in the surrounding streets" and because the traps that should have been available were blocked up. If it were not that the surfacemen’s duties of clearing the drain traps in the surrounding streets were undertaken by the St. George works officials on Sunday the position would have been much worse. Mr Parr will have to give us a new Dental School soon.” jocuhrly remarked a dental student this morning, as he gazed at the corner of the building, which had been undermined by the Leith. The tram linos on the Main South road are covered with stones and debris, and from present appearances should take some time to clear. Those who found enjoyment from the flood waters were tho small boys and the seagulls. On rafts, canoes, and boards Ihe hoys had a rare time this morning, while at Carisbrook and on the Oval the seagulls fluttered about in great glee. Owing to the disorganised state of the. city consequent upon the floods, “ Poppy Day,” arranged for to-morrow, has been postponed until further notice. The electric power went off at ten ininuates past 12. and was off for twenty minutes. This is clue presumably to the heavy rain experienced during tho past two days. A resident of Lower St. Andrew street made use of the flood waters this afternoon to indulge in a swim, demonstrating his skill before a large crowd of onlookers. When he tired, he turned round and swam to his own gateway. CENTRAL NOT AFFECTED. After a long .spell of dry, line weather, there was a sudden change on Saturday morning, when a southerly rain set in. This continued intermittently yesterday, but it rained steadily all night. This morning it is showery and windy. The Molyueux River, which is at a low level, has only risen about Ift. —Our Clyde correspondent. POST OFFICE ADVICES. The Central Post Office was advised by Mosgiel at 9.50 a.m. that all train services Had been suspended. Tho water was then over the railway line near Burnside and tho Main -South road, Green Island, under water. The Silvcrstream was discharging over its hanks on to the plains. Tho Taieri River is high at Outram bridge. Lawrence. —Continuous heavy rain in district since Saturday night. River, creek in flood. Tuapeka Mouth and Waipori mail coaches unable to get through. Waipori and Waitahuna Post Offices have water 'running through. Lawrcnce-Milton train unable to jwss Waitahuna.; returned here with mails. Still raining. Waitahuna.- —Big flood here. Tuttle of the mail matter damaged. Balclutha.—Owing to washout on railway, no trains running north and south from here. No prospect of getting mails through to-day. Six and three-quarter inches rain fell last twenty-four hours; still raining : river rising rapidly. Tapanui.—Floods will probably prevent train service Tapanui branch to-day. Middlemareh. —Taieri River at maximum flood height, and still rising; weather clearing. Clinton. —Train carrying mail which left at 6.15 a.m. for Dunedin was held up at Warepa by washout. WATER IN ‘ STAR ’ BASEMENT. PUMPS BROUGHT INTO USE. Last evening it was found that a fair volume of water was making its way into the basement of the ‘Star’ Office, whore is housed the big Goss machine which prints the paper. The water was making , its way into the promises chiefly from the excavations being made next door on the site of the old Pier Hotel. Pumps wore secured about 8 o'clock, and were worked all night in an effort to clear the place. A considerable amount of newsprint paper was badly damaged, and much of it will not bo able to be used. This morning more pumps were secured, and most of the water'was got out-by this afternoon, with the result that the ‘ Star ’ was able to be produced as usual. An offer from Sir George Fenwick that the ‘ Times ’ press could be used if the place was not cleared in, time was highly appreciated.