FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 April 1925, Page 5

FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

HOUSES INVADED. COMMUNICATIONS INTERRUPTED. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 17. People have been driven from their homes by flood water at Little River and stock has been lost, although to what extent information is not available.

Water to a depth of nearly four feet covers the entire township, and in the lower lying parts it is still deeper. Residents have been compelled to take refuge in other parts of the town. Forced out of his home by encroaching waters, the local constable has taken refuge in the courthouse with his family, and the local doctor has thrown his house open to those in need of accommodation.

Two bridges •in the township, have been washed away. . Throughout the district pianos and other furniture have been placed upon tables, and the outlook generally is dreary. The railway yards, in common with the rest- of the town, are under water, and not a train left this morning. Cars are unable to get through or to travel along any of the streets. People whose houses are in the worst affected area are being rescued in horse drays and taken to higher parts. During the 24 hours ending at 9 o’clock this morning 7.98 indies of rain had fallen. The rain ceased just before 5 o’clock this afternoon, but the yi-eather remains threatening. The water ha»s made a good escape in most cases, though a few areas are still flooded. Rivers are running high, hut have not overflowed their banks.

The Peninsula is cut off owing to the flood at Little River and slips on the hill roads. About 200 tons of clay fell on the Sumner-Lyttelton road, and at the port some damage was done through water entering establishments. The retaining wall collapsed in Cressey Terrace, and now lies in the middle of the road. The telephone service in the city was faulty to-day owing to water penetrating the underground cables, and some portions of the city were without electric power owing to a tree falling across a feeder line. In the country little or no damage was caused, the rain being welcomed, as the ground was in need of a thorough soaking. ...