SUDDEN FLOOD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 November 1926, Page 9

SUDDEN FLOOD

EXTRA EDITION •4

WAIMAKARIRI OVERFLOWS.

HOUSES INVADED RESIDENTS RESCUED IN BOATS. (by TELEGRAPH— press association.. „ CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 5. A flood descended on Chaneys with suddenness. At 4.4 U a.m. the was quite dry, but a few minutes later 'the flood swept down like a tidal wave, submerging the place to a depth of seven or eight feet' in some spots. Old age pensioners at Chaneys were rescued from a tree after being there for five hours. Residents in the district estimate that thousand of acres of crops are ruined. The water from the flooded Waimakariri went across the Ouruhia district and Brooklands to the sea on the north road. In various other places occupants of houses had to he rescued by boats.' Families found the water invading their houses at four o’clock this morning, and an alarming rise of the flood sent them scurrying to the roofs. At Belfast the water swept down York street, which was soon inundated. All rail and road communication with North Canterbury is stopped. A greater flood is feared at three o’clock, when it will be high tide WEST COAST WASHOUTS. SERIOUS DAAIACE REPORTED. RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED. GREYMOUTH. Nov. (5. Sunny weather to-day averted flood danger, although the rivers are running high everywhere. Greymouth streets near the wharf were flooded, hut water is now fast subsiding. Business was temporarily dislocated, but no serious damage was reported in the borough. There was high tide at 10.15, after which the river was expected to drop rapidly. Reports from Blackball snow that ihe traffic bridge, recently repaired suflered severely. Three spans were carried away and also two piles. Railway traffic has been suspended indefinite ly. This will be a serious hardship to the miners. On the Rteefton line there were two washouts. That at the Mauwherati bridge is very serious. Trains are running only to Tkamatua from Greymouth. Otira reports several washouts, notably at Aickens and Rotomanu. The Department expects to get the trains through later to-day. The express will run to-morrow, but the passengers will have to transfer at Arthur’s Pass. The washout on the Hokitika line is til clear. Telegraphic communications have been disturbed in all directions, the Buffer district being practically out off from communication. Two inches of rain fell at Greymouth' yesterday. There is -a record depth of 29 feet of water on the bar as the result of scourigir. The bar will be workable to-nighx. RECO RD FLOOD IN THE AY A 1 - HOPAI. BLENHEIM. Nov. 5. Phenomenal rain in the back country caused the biggest flood in the Wni- , hopai known for 12 years. It created \ ail .inspiring spectacle at _ the hydro's electric works at Waihopai. The raging river topped the wall of the dam. poured into the ravine like a Niagara, and the roar could be heard a considerable distance away.. The river rose i rapidly during the night, the total rise y being in the vicinity of 30 feet. The water was actually two feet deep in “lie intake tunnel, SO feet above normal level of the stream. Little damage was done to the actual works. The over is now falling. DAMAGE CAUSED IN MARLBOROUGH. BLENHEIM, Nov. 5. Rainstorms and melted snow on the high country caused the flooding of the Wairau river and tributaries to such an extent that the river overflowed its banks at Spring Creek and Tuamarina this morning. Considerable areas of Tich farm lands, carrying beautiful crops were inundated, making the occurrence a serious disaster to the farming community. It is believed that the spans of the railway bridge between Spring Creek and Tuamarina have been ■washed away and a long wooden bridge above Renwick has been damaged. Traffic communication by road and by rail between Blenheim and Picton are temporarily severed.