CENTRAL FLOODS

Evening Star, Issue 18532, 15 January 1924, Page 6

CENTRAL FLOODS

QUEENSTOWN SERVICES RESTORED PASSENGERS FERRIED TO STEAMER [SOCIAL iO THB ‘ STAR.’] QUEENSTOWN, January 15. | The lake has gone up Sin since yesterday, but is now receding ■ slightly. A strong southerly is blowing at present, and conditions have improved. No further, damage has been done. , The rivers at the head of the hike, though falling slightly, are still pouring a, huge vol imo of water into the lake; but j the Kawarau is coping with it. The Shot- j over is nearly down to normal. , The steamer ran to Kingston this J 110 1?", ing. Passengers and mails had to bo taken to the wharf in small boats. No mails or passengers came through yesterday. RIVER LEVELS FALL AT BALOLUTHA. / [Special to the ‘ Star.’] BALOLUTHA, January 15. The position is unchanged, except that the river has fallen about 6in since 6 a.m., and is now 10ft above normal, the weather is threatening and showery. Barnego and Otanornomo settlements are so far free from flood waters, the protective embankments functioning Lake Wakatipu is as high as reported the Molyneux may continue running above normal for a week or more. RAILWAY LINES ALL CLEAR. An inquiry of the Railway Department at 2 this afternoon produced the answer that all the railway lines in the district are clear and working right, no trouble bsfng expected. MARAROA BRIDGE IMPERILLED. Mr Edgar Stead, of who has been angling in the Te Anau district in company with some Dunedin anglers, returned to Dunedin last night, and_ reports that one of the piles ol L the bridge that spans the Mararoa was hanging, whilst the bridge as a whole looked as if it was very shaky. LAKE WANAKA HIGH. A private message from Pembroke this morning reported that Lake Wanaka has risen, and is up to Perrow’s store; and it is rumored that both the punts at Albert Town have been sunk. POST OFFICE BULLETINS. Cromwell reports, 9 a.m. : Heavy rain during night; Olutha River shows rise of bin; Kawarau steady. Weather still unsettled, and very cold. Roxburgh reports, 9 a.m. : River remains at much the same level; weather squally. Alexandra reports, 9 a.m.River shows rise of 6in during the night; heavy rain during night; weather still unsettled. ■ Balclutha reports, 9 a.m.: No rise in river since last night; weather showery. TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED IN WESTLAND. [Feb United Press Association.] ■ HOKITIKA, January 14. The heavy rains of the past few days have interrupted traffic in the couth temporarily, No serious damage is reported. • DROUGHT BREAKS IN HAWKE’S BAY. [Per United Press Association.] NAPIER, January 14. A fall of 72 points of rain in Napier yesterday brought relief from the drought, and reduced the temperature considerably. A heavy thunderstorm was experienced yesterday, lasting ten minutes, during which time 24 points of rain fell. Inland • the fall was much heavier, and the drought is considered to be ended. WEATHER IN DUNEDIN. | Yesterday evening the weather in this district was mild, with light showers. To-; wards midnight the south-west wind grew strong, and the temperature dropped to a winter point But there was no wniten- ■ ing of Flagstaff or any other of the ad- j jacent hills, and after breakfast the ther- \ mometer rose with the breaking up of the clouds, promising a return before long to the- pleasant conditions that have been customary this summer.

GALE IN CANTERBURY WILLOWS UPROOTED. RADIO AERIALS BLOWN AWAY. [Per United Peess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. A heavy southerly gale, with a downpour oi rain, set in at about 1.30 a.m. today. The rain ceased at about 9.00, but the wind raged with great violence, and there is no sign of it abating. It is doing a good deal of damage in gardens as a set-off to the benefits conferred by the rain. , Reports from the country show that tne rain is very welcome, and that the gale has not so far done any damage to the wheat crops. Telegraphic interruptions have been caused in many cases by falling trees, but they are not serious enough to stop communication. In the city half a dozen willows were uprooted on the riber bank. Many radio aerials have been blown away.