The Grey River Argus MONDAY, October 12th, 1936. THE FLOOD OF 1936.

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1936, Page 4

The Grey River Argus MONDAY, October 12th, 1936. THE FLOOD OF 1936.

Great as the risks may be, visitations such as that of Saturday, are not by any means devoid of romance. The “old man’’ flood of ’79 remains a tradition, and the years of Queen Victoria’s jubilees both were marked by memorably floods, so that the inundation on this occasion may be associated with thg year of King Edward’s accession. By all accounts this has been a Hood about as high as almost any on record. It is considered by those in touch with records to have been greater than any previous flood for half a century. Those who are considerable losers, more particularly owners of live stock, are deserving of sympathy. It is too early to compute the full extent of the damage, but it must run into some thousands of pounds. At the same time, considering the enormous volume of water that the Grey carried on Saturday morning, it is a subject of thankfulness that the consequences were not far worse. The value has never been better shown of ilie strong concrete stop-bank at the upper end of 3lawhera Quay, and it is not easy to realise in our day that this structure met with no little opposition when it was advocated by a then well-known member of the Harbour Board in years gone by. The extent of water which it deflected was on Saturday indicated when a sheet of water covered nearly the whole area, from Tainui Street westward almost to the sea, as well as the entire delta of the river as far as the North Beach. Previous floods for decades had failed to rise so high, and those with properties on the lower-ly-ing areas had perhaps come to imagine a recurrence of the worst old-time flooding had become a remote contingency. On th e other hand, the natural tendency might actually be the contrary. It is obvious, of course, that the rains alone could not have accounted for this visitation. The snows of the main range must have given a. large contribution!, as they have given to all of the greatest floods of th c past. But the gradual removal of vegetation coincident with the extension of human habitation, tends to render the speed of floods greater. This has been illustrated in many places, and it must be here allowed for. The wisdom therefore, of studying the question of precautions is never to be ignored. The erosion is a costly matter for local bodies, while business people and householders risk loss. Fortunately there has been no loss of life, whereas such was not th e ease on the occasion of the last comparable flood, when a man on Richmond.-; Quay was swept to death by the overflow from the wharf. It is still recalled that in the earlier floods' houses wore taken to sea; as there was no cheek upon the force of the current. It is for the appropriate authorities now to see that every existing check is kept intact, and if possible made more efficient. There has been a complaint that an c arlier warning might have been given, but there is doubtless the excuse that previous floods had at a late stage appeared quite as danger- i ous as this one without overflow- * ing into- the town. Should there be a. recurrence, therefore, it > may be taken for granted that ; the experience on this occasion £

will he a guide in the matter. The exceptional flood in the Waimakariri River on Saturday, as well as the rise of: the Mokihinui and Buller Rivers indicated that the inland rainfall was something of a record, and caused a greater melting of snow and ice than had occurred so quickly for many a year. The lateness of the season had probably a considerable influence. If may bp said that the volume of waler her e was such that in scarcely’ any other Dominion river would the consequences have not been more serious. How far a rise in the river bed may play a part, is a matter of - conjecture, but this is a question. that is worthy of studv.