LITTLE RIVER FLOODS

Evening Star, Issue 21714, 8 May 1934, Page 11

LITTLE RIVER FLOODS

PENINSULA STILL ISOLATED TOWNSHIP MAY ESCAPE FINAL DISASTER (I’ek United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, -May %. By road Little River'anti the whole of the Banks Peninsula district is still isolated. Two service cars reached Little River to-day, but soon alter their arrival the level of Lake Forsyth rose again, and the road became once more impassable. the train made slow progress to Little River from Christchurch to-day, but no train will reach the Little River station for some time, as a slip of at least 1,000 yards ot boulders, shingle, and clay covers the railway In« for 60 yards near too station. The south-west storm continues with persistent rain. . but -the fall is not nearly so heavy as during the unprecedented storm which caused the 'floods, on Saturday morning. The position ol the township, however, is still precarious., One of the factors which mitigated the severity of the flood was the low level of the- lake, hut now, owing to the heavy discharge if flood waters into the lake, it is higher than it has ever been in. living memory. A more severe rain would certainly create a position of extreme gravity. Residents are now, however, of the. opinion that the township may escape such a disaster.

Generally, the damage in the Little River, Kaituua, Wainui, and neighbouring districts : is greater than was indicated by the first reports. Numerous small slips have blocked the roadways; fields and even gardens and houses are littered with yellow silt, shingle, boulders, and logs. None of the people who vacated houses at Little River on Saturday occupied them tonight owing to'.the'danger which would threaten with a* further rise of the lake From tiic accounts of the sudden onset of the flood, it is apparent that several residents had almost miraculous escapes. Tho flood waters poured over the residence of the stud groom of the Kiiiloch Estate, and he and his family were rescued with great difficulty. Actually, they were saved by boulders Which piled up against the house and on the roof and held the house, down against the pressure of the rushing waters. The water was feet, high arid was rising rapidly when the family was rescyed, At the Kinloch homestead a creek literally burst through the billiard room and flooded the whole house, which was speedily abandoned.

Boulders heaped to a height of 3ft or 4ft bury the drives and gardens of twp homesteads in tho Okuti Valley. lu Little River a slip which threatened to envelop a house lost. momentum suddenly' as' it reached the brick steps at. the back door of Mr C. Ferguson’s house. Otherwise it would have carried the house down the side of the hill.

Swollen streams are still pouring, down the hillsides, and water still lies in the main street. The whole township is in an indescribable condition of ruin. All kinds of flood litter are lying every-, where.

Streams have changed their courses, bridg i haw gone, and 3ft of water covers the main road. Slips are still coining down on the hillsides, and the whole countryside is sadly scarred by slipr large and small.