DAMAGE AT OAMARU

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 7

DAMAGE AT OAMARU

CELLARS INVADED BY WATER HOUSES FLOODED [Special to the ‘Star,’] OAMARU, March 20. The heaviest downpour experienced in Oamaru for many years occurred yesterday and last night, a great amount of damage being done in the town. When the rain commenced on Monday evening it was welcomed by most people after the dry spell, but it developed' yesterday into a rentable deluge, and up to this morning 6.10 in had fallen during twenty-four hours. Storm water channels were unable to cope with the surface water, and many business premises and dwellings were isolated by large expanses oi water. A driving wind added to the discomfort in town and country. Heavy damage was done in the town, occupants of four houses in Reed and Am streets being flooded out, and this morning these houses still have 3tt of water in them. Some of the occupants, old ladies, had to be carried out in their beds. A culvert in Reed street blocked, and a raging torrent .swept the street, which was covered with silt this morning. The approaches to the bridge at Takaro Park were washed away by the creek. Several shops suffered severely through storm water percolating into basements, damaging goods before it was possible to remove them to safety. Pew shops and houses escaped som edamage. Parly yesterday afternoon a big stretch of water isolated the Post Office, and last night the basement and backyard were under water to depth of 4ft. Jackson's .Dining Room's floor was covered by a foot of muddy water, and many business premises suffered similarly. The lire brigade did great work in pumping away water when business premises were threatened. Severn street was partly submerged, and a new petrol station was badly damaged by the subsidence of ground, a retaining wall being levelled. Several concrete retaining walls in various parts of the town were washed away. The damage to buildings and goods is tremendous, hut impossible to estimate yet. Slips on the railway line at Glenavy and Port Chalmers prevent trains getting to Oamaru from north or south,