FLOOD DANGER OVER

Evening Star, Issue 25926, 18 October 1946, Page 6

FLOOD DANGER OVER

RIVERS STILL. SWOLLEN RAIN CEASES IN CENTRAL OTAGO PEAK OF THREAT PASSED AT BALCLUTHA Subjected continuously for two days to the terrific pressure of a deep and swiftly-moving torrent, fed from the vast watershed of the high country of the province, . the Clutha River has .kept to its course, and with , a return to-day to brilliantly fine weather in Central Otago the flood danger that has particularly menaced the weak point in the river about the low-lying areas surrounding Palclutha is definitely removed. All the rivers, streams, and lakes finding their outlet into the Molyneux River are still very high, and it will be several days before an appreciable fall in the Clutha River occurs. The peak of the flood menace was passed last night, and although the river was still very swollen to-day it had steadied in its flow towards noon, and the cessation of rain in Central Otago was expected to have a gradual effect in a falling level in the next two days. Tlie total rise of the Clutha River since Monday has been 10 feet, and its actual depth at Balclutha at mid-day 1 was 35ft in the vicinity of the traffic bridge. The safety margin was still a small one, but with the full force of the flood waters in the. upper reaches of the Molyneux having already spent itself last night all cause f6r alarm has been removed. Sandbagging operations around Inch Clutha were continued to-day, and in only, a few places in this vulnerable district have tho waters broken the banks of the river. The. reports of the rising depths in .the Molyneux and Kawarau Rivers at Alexandra and Cromwell yesterday caused anxiety last night, and early this morning the river gauge at Balclutha showed an actual depth of 71'.40in. It was then that the flood waters reached their peak and were carrying the fullest volume following the thawing of snow and heavy rain in Central Otago. It was fortunate that at the critical stage yesterday afternoon rain ceased in all inland districts, for had the Clutha River continued to rise to-day preventive measures would have been useless and extensive flooding near the mouth of the river would have deeply _ inundated thousands of acres of low-lying pasture country surrounding Balclutha itself. LEVELS FALL APPRECIABLY. The reason for confidence being restored in the situation at Bhlclutha is contained in the reports received throughout Central Otago this morning. At Alexandra, the Molyneux River, after rising dangerously last night and reaching a level of s 26ft llin at 9 a.m., dropped an inch in an hour, and its level was still falling. The weather then appeared to be settled, and there was brilliant sunshine. The same situation was reported from Cromwell, the flow of the swollen Kawarua River, where it joins the Molyneux River, easing appreciably. Lake Wakatipu was at the highest level this year, and towards noon a reading showed that.it hpid risen from Bft 6in at-7 o’clock las night to 9ft. However, as snow is rapidly thawing in tlie high country this increase in its volume was expected, and with the Molyneux gradually subsiding the level of the lake will fall owing to the river having now a greater capacity to cope with the normal overflow of the Kawarua River, into which the lake nows.