FLOOD AT KAIKOURA.

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1923, Page 5

FLOOD AT KAIKOURA.

The Heaviest on Record. , CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. The heaviest flood in Kaikoura’s history is reported. Rain commenced on Friday, continuing on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The district is inundated through heavy seas stemming the rushing waters at the mouth of the river. Land slides on the roads to Blenheim and to Christchurch blocked traffic. The telephone and telegraphic wires are down, thus isolating Kaikoura. The Middle Creek rose over the bridge, which is impassable. On the North Road the Kowhai River overflowed the bridge. On the South Road the residences near the banks of the Lyell stream, suffered heavily The water is over a foot deep in one residence. The water at the Dairy Company’s office was up to the door handle. There is a depth of three feet at Flower’s Corner, and the shop is flooded. The shop on the other side of the road at the lower level suffered severe damage. There is four feet of water in the shop, and much stock was damaged. The west-end residents were forced to seek refuge in the hotels. The Long Creek sawmill was washed away, and hundreds of cords of wood, with engine and sawbench, were lost. Linesmen have been landed at Kaikoura to repair the lines. They were equipped with a harpoon gun to shoot wires across the streams. The rainfall was 25.8 inches.