HOUSES FLOODED IN SOUTHLAND: RESIDENTS’ ORDEAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 6

HOUSES FLOODED IN SOUTHLAND: RESIDENTS’ ORDEAL

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL. Dec. 16. For Ihe second time in three years North Otautau residents yesterday experienced flooding from the Aparima River, water entering more than half a dozen homes.

At its peak the flood reached the 10ft. mark at the Aparima bridge in North Otautau, 9ft. 6in. above normal. The peak equals the disastrous 1913 flood at the Aparima bridge. What saved North Otautau residents from disaster on this occasion is the fact that the Otautau River, which joins the Aparima at Otautau, did not rise to anv etxent and, as in the past, back up the flood waters of the Aparima. In at least two homes the water was flooding in tire back door and out the front door. At 9.30 yesterday morning the Hood had receded by Ift. and residents were assisting the recession by digging channels. . . , . , Exceptionally heavy rain m tnc back country on Tuesday caused the Orcti and Mat aura Rivers to be in high flood. Consequently roads in the Mossburn. Te Anau and the Five Rivers districts became imoassable, and in tiro Eglin-ton-Hollyford Valley washouts interrupted traffic and necessitated guests at the Cascade Creek camp being evacuated to the Te Anau Hotel, though the staff remained and meanwhile were cut off through the approaches to a bridge over the Dunstan stream being washed away. , The Milford Track also received a severe soaking, and tire section Irom Glade House to the Pompolona huts is covered in parts to a considerable It is also reported that the flooding in the Mossburn district is the heaviest for years, and motorists have been warned not to attempt to proceed to Te Anau, as the road is unsafe through damage to bridges and culverts by swollen streams. , Other rivers throughout the province have also risen ns a result of heavy rain, though no serious damage or stock losses are reported. It was reported that the Orelt. River had reached the peak at about one o’clock yesterday morning. The water was 18in. above the November flood level. It was later said to be falling.