FLOODS RECEDING

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 6

FLOODS RECEDING

OTAGO WEATHER CLEARS MAIN ROADS-HOW PASSABLE Several days of fairly heavy rain in Otago quickly brought rivers into high flood and caused some interruption of traffic and flooding of premises in the Kelso township, but the rain ceased last night and a marked improvement had occurred by early this morning. Latest reports suggest that all main highways in the province are negotiable by motorists, although care must be exercised in some aTeas where water is still across the roads. Reports received by the secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago) (Mr P. F. Harre) this morning were to the effect that the flood water across the Milton-Central Otago road at Waitahuna had gone down so rapidly late last night that the road was passable, although there were still patches of surface water in places, hut of no great depth. The flood across the Main South road at Waipahi had receded to a depth of 18 inches this morning and was going down steadily. Cars were getting through with care. It was expected that all the water would subside to-day, although when travelling at night motorists would probably need to exercise • care, as they would encounter patches of shallow water across the road. The Waikaka River, which crosses the Main South road at McNab, was in high flood yesterday, and the Gore-Waikaka-Kelso road was impassable. Even buses were reported to be in trouble on this route and private cars could not get through. The Pomahaka River overflowed its hanks and flooded the township of Kelso for the second time this year. A considerable improvement in the position had occurred, however, by early this morning. In the city Tain fell continuously yesterday, and it was one of the most miserable shopping days for months. The rainfall in Dunedin during the three days was considerably more than one inch. After the bitterly cold weather on Thursday the temperature was milder yesterday. The rain stopped during last evening and the weather was fine, although intermittently overcast this morning.