LAKE DRAINED TO SEA

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1934, Page 5

LAKE DRAINED TO SEA

LITTLE RIVER SAFE Havoc on Peninsula (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Although heavy rain is still falling, and the southerly storm continues with a violence that is scarcely abated, the plight of the unhappy people of Litt.e River is better to-day than it has been since Saturday morning, when the flood waters rose to dangerous heights. Attempts to open an outlet from Luke Forsyth to the sea succeeded last evening, after much arduous toil that was not without risk. Ordinarily it is considered hopeless to endeavour to open an outlet in a storm, because the seas close it almost immediately; but on this occasion, the heavy pressure of water at an unprecedented level in the lake created a scour sufficient to overwhelm the force of the waves. An opening of a few yards only was cut in the shingle spit, but this quickly widened to 70 yards, and the water rushed out through a wide and deep channel. Efforts are now being concentrated on repairing the Little River water supply. Many houses are now without water, because the pipes have been I carried away or smashed. The train service is now normal, and trains are carrying water in tanks, which has provided some relief. Rain water is also being saved in all available receptacles. Service cars got through to-day, but with their running boards awash in places where the road is covered by water. It is impossible to give any reliable estimate as to the amount of damage. Bridges have gone; roads have been washed away or blocked by slips; ami farm lands scoured away, or covered with a deposit of clay, shingle, boulders, dead timber and other flood debris; fences have been destroyed or damaged, and the houses are in an indescribable condition. It is also impossible to count the losses of stock. Much of the roadway has entirely disappeared. A water fall which crashed down on to the road, scouring a deep hole, emerged from a settler’s cowshed above the highway. Communication has been restored with some valleys previously isolated but with others no normal communication will be possible for weeks. One of those isolated by slips is Commander Hall, of Peraki. He cannot reach Little River, even with horses. His homestead, one of the best on the Peninsula, narrowly escaped being washed away. Hall spent some time to-day removing eels from rooms in his house. The ground over which the flood passed is littered with eels. The slips on the Peninsula are num berless. The whole district will be permanently scarred. A telegram from. the Premier ► tat«s that the request for assistance in repairing the damage will be looked into

ANOTHER STORM

THE EAST COAST . CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. Exceptionally heavy seas were en countered bv the intcr-Island steamei Wahine, on the passage from Wellington to Lyttelton last night, and speed had to be reduced. The Wahine reached Lyttelton at 8.15 a.m., two hours late. 'rhe weal lo' in Canterbury con tinuos wintry, with more heavv min. WELLINGTON, May 9. A southerly, accompanied by high seas, delayed the Wanganella, which ur,rived last night . She was to have bcithed at 7 a.m. to-day, but high seas in the harbour made it difficult, and the tug Toia had to assist. She was tied up an hour later, and /with her Low to the south, for the first lime during the seventeen months 'he has been calling here VERY HEAVY SEAS. HOLD UP SHIPPING. WELLINGTON. May 9. Heavy southerly weather yesterday and to-day has been responsible for' widespread delays to shipping, par- 1 ticuiarly on the east coast 'of both, islands. Rain at many ports has hampered cargo handling while heavy seas in Cook Strait and down the east coast have prevented irfany coastal vessels from leaving port, and has forced others to run for shelter. The only ships to leave Wellington to day were the ferry steamers TamaLine, Matangi and Rangitira. RECORD RAINS CHRISTCHURCH, May 9. The rain, after a cessation yesterday began again on the Peninsula, and in Christchurch last night, and it fell steadily again all to-day. In Christchurch, since the commencement of the storm, 6.55 inches have fallen, which is an unprecedented rainfall for tho Canterbury plains. On the Peninsula tin* amount has been very much greater. N.S.W DOWNPOUR SYDNEY. Mav 9. Torrential rain has fallen on tho far north coast, and there is danger of serious floods on the Richmond nml Beilingen Rivers. In the Richman. Tweed Heads, Cuff’s Harbour, and Beilingen districts, lange . areas ar« under water (Received May 9 at 8.-10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May " ( Duo to the floods on the north coast

of New South Wales, three feet of water is swirling through many homes in the lowlying parts of the large town of Lismore. The entire coast of New South Wales has been thoroughly drenched. There has scarcely been a day without rain for the past fortnight.