GREY RIVER WITHIN TWO FEET OF COMING OVER AFTER PHENOMENAL INLAND RAIN

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1949, Page 5

GREY RIVER WITHIN TWO FEET OF COMING OVER AFTER PHENOMENAL INLAND RAIN

Flooding Ail Along West and North Coasts of South Island When the Grey River rose only half an inch in the hour before high tide at 8.35 p.m. yesterday, all danger of a major flood disaster in the business area of Greymouth was averted. Throughout the previous six hours from low water, the river had been vising at the Greymouth, wharves at the rate of more than a foot an hour, and up-country reports suggested that a heavy volume of water from the tributaries of the Grey River might bring with them a flood, of serious dimensions. However, the indications at 7 p.m. when a rise of only four inches in the hour was recorded showed that, unless anything unforseen happened, the waters would not overlap the Greymouth wharves. Following this came reports from the Ahaura area that the flood waters had rapidly receded in the Ahaura, Big Grey and Little Grey Rivers about 5 p.m., and it was indicated from the stabilisation of the tidal level at Greymouth that no serious damage would occur in the town.

Precautions in Shops Warned of the position hourly by radio, many Greymouth shopkeepers took the precaution of lilting tneir stocks to counter levels, in anticipation of flooding, while extra precautions had to be taken in hotels to prevent damage to tloors through beer barrels protruding through them when the tiood water in cellars reached high levels. As it is, most of the cellars in town have Peen flooded, and the use of pumps will be necessary to remove tne water from many oi them. At high tide, the waters were more than two feet clear of the top decking of the wharves, to which hundreds of residents proceeded in anticipation of an overflow. In spite of driving rain at times ,their curiosity remained unsatisfied until after the hour of high tide. Vast areas were submerged by flood waters, particularly at Coal Creek, near Greymouth, }vhere stock losses are considerable. Cobden island was almost completely _ under water, and on it a number of horses and sheep were making frantic efforts to escape. A considerable number of sheep had to be removed from Wingham Park, on the Runanga road when the flood waters appeared to be rising to a dangerous level. Stock losses in other parts of the province are heavy', however, the most notable loss being in the vicinity of 200 sheep owned by Mr Arthur Russ, of Taramakau, ten miles south of Greymouth. The Taramakau River rose to a record height, and swept the sheep away from Mr Russ’s farm near the mouth of the river. Some cattle on an island near Coal Creek were lost. Eight cows and two heifers were seen being swept down the river past the Greymouth wharf, but five of the cattle managed tc scramble ashore on the rocks on the south breakwater, apparently uninjured. STREETS FLOODED

The low-lying streets of Greymouth were partly flooded, although the waters extended right across the main business street, Mackay Street, opposite the Regent Theatre at the corner of Boundary Street. Minor flooding also occurred in Herbert, Leonard, William and Boundary Streets. For a considerable stretch the waters backed up through manholes in Mackay Street, and along portion of Mawhera Quay facing the wharves. The flood was the second one of a major nature experienced this month, the previous flood on February 12 causing considerable damage and heavy stock losses. From appearances last 'night, with huge quantities, of debris coming down the Grey River, it is feared that stock losses in the back country will be more considerable on this occasion, and the same applies to the area in the back country from Hokitika. PRECAUTIONS TAKEN ON SHIPS IN PORT Special precautions to prevent three ships in port at Greymouth and Hokitika were taken yesterday. The largest vessel, the Matthew Flinders, loading 1,000,000 feet of timber for Australia had in use every steel hawser and chain she had available, and in addition kept the screws turning at a fair speed to counter the strong current which, at its peak reached nearly twelve knots. Even on the incoming tide, the current rarely dropped below nine knots. The Puriri, on her maiden trip to Greymouth was to have sailed yesterday morning, but the previous day s rain delayed her loading of coal for Nelson, and she was further delayed bv the high seas on the bar yesterday Extra heavy moorings were used on the Puriri yesterday, but the heavv quantities of trees and other debris coming downstream prevented the use of her twin screws as it was feared they might be fouled by some obstruction. Many Stock Feared Lost in Swirling Flood Waters

Although farmers in the Grey Valley were last evening unable to estimate their stock losses, it was stated that much heavier losses than were experienced in the flood earlier this month were expected. Owing to the fact that flood waters were still high at dark, it was not possible for most farmers to check their losses. However,, the heaviest loser in the flood appears to be Mr Arthur Russ, of Camerons, who estimates that he has lost about 200 sheep from his farm on the northern bank at the mouth of the Taramakau River. In the Hokitika, and Koiterangi districts, heavy losses are not expected The major flooding occurred early yesterday morning, and on last night’s tide, the Hokitika river was only at normal flood level. In South Westland, it was apparent from the high flooding in most rivers, that heavy stock losses may have occurred. Most of the heavy rain was confined to the ranges, and it is feared that the sudden rising of rivers may have meant that much stock has been carried away. ■ In the Buller district no stock losses are reported, and it is not anticipated that there will be any great loss in the Inangahua Valley. In the Taramakcu Valley no estimate of probable losses was available last • ni Reports of possible stock losses and flood damage in the Haupiri and Nelson Creek districts were not available last evening. However, exceptionally heavy rain was expei icnced and the Nelson Creek was running at

a record level yesterday' morning. It is expected that considerable damage would have been done in nearer the ranges.

STOCK SAVE THEMSELVES One of the most unusual sights of the flood i\jn from the wharves last evening was when eight cattle and two heifers floated down the river, bellowing furiously as the flood waters carried them along. Few gave them any hope of being saved but five of the cattle managed to scramble up on the south breakwater about 100 yards on the tiphead side of McLean Park, and reached the roadway apparently unharmed. The attention of Cobden residents was called to four hoises, two foals and about 15 sheep which were stranded on the northern side of Cobden island. They were probably not lost, but showed considerable anxiety as the waters rose leaving them only a small patch of dry land on which to remain.

There was no stock losses at the Omoto racecourse, it was stated last evening. Water covered almost the whole of the racecourse area, on which there were a few sheep and several horses. One horse was rescued with difficulty' by Mr C. J. Walsh, while another remained on a high patch of land, and a third horse was apparently safe on a lower Daddock.

RIVER DROPS A FOOT At one o’clock this morning, the river had dropped a foot from the maximum height reached at high water about 8.30 last evening. Reports from the signal station on the south tip, indicated that there were heavy seas on the bar, but there was only" a moderate west nor-west breeze. No Possibility of Orangapuki Ereak-through The opinion that there was no possibility that the Taramakau River would break through to the Orangapuki, which flows into Lake Brunner and would consequently gravely affect the Grey River, was expressed by the Catchment Board’s engineer Mr J. H. McElhinney when referring at yesterday’s meeting to inspections he had made of the area. The possibility thta there might be a break through was worthy ol close investigation, he said, but any chance of such a happenisg in the near future did not appear. “This threat is one of the perennials on the West Coast,” he said, “hut the area most affected has good standing timber on it. In 1936 the river was actually closer to the Orangapuki than it is at present, but it did not break through then. Mr McElhinney added that he was securing the services of a geologist to report on the area and that the State Forest Service would collect data relating to the trees so that a full report would be possible. Below the Jackson’s bridge there had been restricted erosion with lit Je damage to farm lands it was reported by the engineer. Dealing with diac’s Creek, he said, the last flood was the biggest in the memory ol one old settler. It had wiped out an island and the river now was in two streams. He recommended an investigation and survey, as it was possible that they could direct the river. ~ . It was a big job, but one on which he could not guess until a survey was completed added the engineer. His suggestion was adopted.