HEAVY RAINS IN BULLER FLOOD A TOWNSHIP

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 8

HEAVY RAINS IN BULLER FLOOD A TOWNSHIP

WESTPORT, April 23

As a result of heavy rain which has been failing in the past iwo uuy days, the small township of Waimarie was almost covered by water yesterday morning. A big fresh in the Mokihinui River, clashed with the incoming tide and heavy sea. The river water backed up to cover the Kynnersley Domain and spread to the adjacent residential area. At 9 a.m. most of the township was under water. When it broke through an hour later, it was a foot deep in the hotel and nearby houses. There was a rush to take up carpets and to shift other articles above flood level, but later in the morning there was every indication that the danger of the water rising had ceased for the time being. No stock was affected by the flood, the sheep and cattle finding their way to higher land. This is the second time in recent months that the township has been flooded. There is a feeling that if a small stop-bank .was constructed on the bay side of’ ine town. it. would meet the inflow of water, and prevent flooding. Representations have been maae to the Government to have that work given urgent consideration, and there certainly is need for action. An old man flood could have serious consequences and possibly cause loss of life, as, even with the fresh to-day a large area of land, almost, to the crossroads, was inundated When rain was falling heavily on Thursday many of the water tables were incapable of taking the wat-er at Westport. In lots of places it backed up over the footpaths and roads.

Country roads were flooded in places. No damage was reported.

It is understood that little trouble was experienced with the slip at Windy Point in the Buller Gorge Road yesterday afternoon. Approaching low tide yesterday, there was an eight to nine knot run in the Buller river, with heavy seas oh the bar.

There is a possibility that this fresh may have the effect of clearing away a lot of the silt on the bar which has retarded shipping movements m the past two months. For the twenty-rour hours up to 9 a.m. on Saturday, 2.77 inches of rain fell at Westport. The steamer, Kartigi was unable to make the .port this morning after arriving in the roadstead about 2 a.m.