HIGH SEAS INVADE ESTUARY

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 6

HIGH SEAS INVADE ESTUARY

DAMAGE AT SEASIDE RESORT HOUSES FLOODED AND BOATS WRECKED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. The heaviest spring tide in many years did damage at Redcliffs this evening that will take thousands of pounds to repair. _ Retaining walls were swept away, houses wore flooded, boats carried on to rocks, and roads and tram lines blocked. The heavy erosion of the sandhills on the New Brighton side has left the entrance to the estuary open to high seas. A high easterly wind coming in with the tide dashed waves against tho retaining walls in front of private properties with such fury that many of them were soon pushed over and tho sea beat against the doors and walls of the houses. Housewives moved their furniture to what dry places they could find, and watched the water rise inside their homes to a height of four to 12 inches. A few were forced to leave.

The waves broke right across the main road at Monck’a Bay, throwing spray high over motor cars and strewing the road with stones and debris from the sea wall. The 4.46 p.m. tram from Sumner was travelling through the water when it struct an obstruction on the line beneath the water and was derailed. The road at St. Aridrew’s Hill for about a quarter of a mile between the Heathcote bridge and the causeway was heavily flooded, and debris over the rails prevented trams from passing. During the evening the trams were replaced by buses, and at one stage C ese had to make a detour over St. Andrew’s Hill. Heavy damage was done among 70 boats 'at the Christchurch Yacht Club’s moorings in Monek’s Bay.

Members of the club, with the water waist high on the landing stage, saved many big boats, but all, even those on the repair slips, were tossed about and battered against one another. • The racing yacht Nike was carried by the seas on to the road and left stranded on the tram lines. Its tall mast came into contact with the overhead tramway wires, and several young men who touched the boat suffered an electric shock. Some were thrown off their feet. Another racing yacht was noled beyond repair, and a small keeler was severely damaged. _ leas raced through the boat-building shed of Mr George Andrews, breaking down the doors and carrying away the wall of an adjacent shed. A man in his bath in a neighbouring house pulled out the plug to let the water away and was astonished to see more water enter. The flood had backed up the drain. ■ The heavy erosion of the sandhills at the mouth of the estuary is. considered to be in a large measure responsible for the flooding, which has done probably more damage than any on record ..t Redcliffs. FRedcliffs, on the road to Sumner, is the headquarters of the Christchurch Sailing Club. It is situated on the estuary of the Heathcote and Avon Rivers, and, as the tides back far up, is famous for fishing and boating.]