NEW FLOOD THREAT

Evening Star, Issue 25422, 1 March 1945, Page 4

NEW FLOOD THREAT

RIVER -IHSESJMI CENTRAL KAITANSATA POSITION UNCHANGED REPAIR WORK IN PROGRESS Although the flood waters in South Otago, which have inundated a large area of the Stirling, Benhar, Lovell's Flat, and Kaitangata districts, have made no progress for 48. hours and repair work is in progress, reports have been received of a further flood in the upper reaches of the Molyneux River. This will probably not cause any rise in the lower reaches until to-morrow, and its effect will depend on the state of the repair work at the break in the flood bank, which is still in its preliminary stages. The weather lias remained consistently fine in South Otago, but heavy rain is reported to have fallen in the Wanaka and Queenstown districts. Lakes Wanaka and Wakatipu are stated to be still as high as they were after last week's rain, and the Molyneux River at Alexandra, which had returned almost to normal, since last week-end, has risen five feet overnight. This report has caused some alarm in South Otago, as the success of repair operations will depend to some extent on favourable conditions for working. la the flooded _ area the water has not risen appreciably in the last 48 hours. The flood gates on the outlet stream at Kaitangata are still holding, and no further serious erosion has occurred on the banks in tho direction of the dairy factory. Although it has been suggested that a cut should be made at Matau to allow some of the water to escape, this action has_ not been taken yet. One section of opinion is that acceleration of the outflow from the flood area would _ lead to further scouring at the 'break in the river bank and make repair work more difficult. GOOD PROGRESS MADE. Good progress is being made in the task of throwing a screen of poplars across the channel cut by the river when it broke .its banks. When completed, this screen will be supported by a rock dam, for which it is expected that 6,000 tons of rock will be required. A great deal of equipment and labour lias been assembled at the job and work is proceeding continuously. About 60 houses have been evacuated in the town of Kaitangata. They are mostly occupied by miners and their families, and the occupants are now quartered with other residents in the town or at Wangaloa. As ample warning was available, they were able to shift their furniture and other belongings to temporary stores. About 30 or 40 farmhouses in the affected area have also been evacuated. Not all the Kaitangata houses evacuated are flooded, but they are uninhabitable because they are com-

pletely surrounded by water,

'As almost a week has passed since the flooding in the large area now inundated began, and it is likely to continue for at least several days more, some concern is being felt about possible damage to the foundations of flooded buildings. It is feared that subsidences may occur at some properties. The homeless .people have accepted the position cheerfully, and they are greatly appreciative of the hospitality of their temporary hosts and the kindness which has been shown to them. The Red Cross organisation in Southland and the Mayor of Jnvercargill (Mr A. Wachner) have offered help in the relief of distress. MINISTERIAL VISITS.

The Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple); who inaugurated the repair task under the control of the engineering staff of' his department, received satisfactory reports of the progress of the work, and left Dunedin early this morning for Highbank, in Canterbury, to inspect damage to the irrigation and power scheme. ■ The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. 18. (Roberts) arrived in Dunedin vesterday and conferred with departmental officers about the flood damage in South Otago. He left this morning for South Otago to inspect the damage and meet the affected farmers, who have been promised compensation for the serious losses they have suffered. He w,ill remain overnight in Balclutha, and will return to Dunedin to-morrow to meet the Otago Primary Production Council. He will travel north to Oamaru on Saturday, -and will leave later for Christchureh. *