SOUTH ISLAND FLOODS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 1 February 1933, Page 9

SOUTH ISLAND FLOODS

Phenomenal Fall of Rain DELUGE SIN MARLBOROUGH Over 20 Inches In 60 Hours SETTLERS EVACUATE HOMES FENCES AND BRIDGES WRECKED (Bv? Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Feb. 1. Phenomenal rain in the back country all. round Marlborough has fallen during the last two days. Rai Valley reports a fall of 10.48 inches on Monday and 0.6 inches yesterday, making a total of 20.14 inches in 60 hours. In that district fences, were swept away. Many residents were compelled to evacuate their homes and take refuge on haystacks and the roofs of outbuildings. Very few suppliers were able to reach the factory this morning. Other cases were experienced of settlers being unable to milk owing to the depth of water The Blenheim-Nelson highway was completely blocked by' floods at Canvastown, Rai Valley and elsewhere. The Ronga bridge is believed to have been swept away, though the report is unconfirmed. A swing bridge on. P. Neil’s property disappeared and another on G. Wraffs property is in a precarious condition. It is still raining on the Wairau Plains and the river is in heavy- flood, but the banks are standing the test. The Morrins Hollow overflow is functioning perfectly and carrying at least eight feet of water. A big gang of men is at the Wairau bar driving a new cut in the boulder bank.

Believed Lost In Surge

GAR. PASSENGER. DISAPPEARS. WATER, INUNDATES ROAD. BLENHEIM, Feb. 1. Williamson Town ley Bjpwne, aged 35, is believed to have been drowned when a car in which he was a passenger was caught in flood waters in Morrins Hollow. On the Blenheim-Pieton highway over six feet of water covered the road at times as a. result of phenomenal rain in the back country bringing down a heavy- flood in the Wairau. Francis George Thorne, the driver of the car, states that the engine stalled. He got out to. crank it and Browne left the car. He was not seen again. Thorne finally abandoned the car and went for assistance. When he returned the car had disappeared in the flood.

A search of the locality- revealed no sign either of the car or Browne. The water is still very- deep over an area of a square mile.

Damage On West Coast

LOW-LYING AREAS SUBMERGED. ALL TRAFFIC HELD UP. ’ HOKITIKA, Feb. 1. Following continuous rain of. the previous night and yesterday- one of tlie heaviest floods for years was experienced yesterday afternoon and night. All low-lying places were inundated. Traffic generally was held up and much general damage is reported to roads and bridges. The river this morning was still high in flood and further reports of damage in country districts are coming to hand.

The rainfall in the last three days showed a total of 81 inches.