FLOODS ON THE WEST COAST.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 2 January 1918, Page 4

FLOODS ON THE WEST COAST.

PARTS OF GREYMOUTH

SUBiNtERGED

RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED

BY TKLBGRAPH-^PRESS ASSOCIATION,

GREYMOUTH, Jan. 1

Heavy continuous rain all day yesterday resulted in floods and serious damage. A big slip at Rewanui practically destroyed the large coal storage bins, which were so much damaged that it is feared the remaining uprights will have to be pulled out and the whole rebuilt. A blacksmith's shop, farm house, . and electric camp cabin were swept away by the slip, which also blocked the entrance to No. 3 mine at Rewanui. Luckily there were no employees about, or the result might have been more serious. Several. slips occurred on the railway. Two are on the Rewanui line, and one was cleared, but the other prevents through traffic on this line to-day. There are slips at Kaimata and Ngahere. At Rotomanu the line is flooded. The Otira Gorge is blocked, and there is no through traffic from the West^Coast to Christchurch to-day. It is hoped to have blockages cleared to allow the usual train services tomorrow. ' .

The Jockey Club's course is under water. The flood waters' began to trickle over at two o'clock this: morning, and at ten o'clock there was sft to 6ft of water on the course. The horses stabled there were got safely away last night. Little damage is reported in the town itself, but the river in places is within two feet of the top of the wharf, and is still rising. The Trotting Club's course is immune.

The weather is fine to-day. There are crowds in the town who* are disappointed that the races are,not being held. All danger of the flood lapping over the wharf seems past, although the river is banked, and is still rising slowly. -

The bins at Rewanui had a storage capacity of 4000 tons. It is expected that it will be three weeks at-least before this mine is able toM-estart work.

, During Monday, up till early on January 1, 5.8 inches of rain fell. The heavy flood in the river started to fall at 4 p.m., and relieved the feelings of the business people. One span of the Teramakau road . bridge has been washed away.

The trotting' races will be gone on with to-morrow, and the Greymouth Jockey Club's races on Thursday. The weather is now fine.

j At 2.15 p.m. the river was. still rising slowly against the falling tide. The low-lying parts of the town are now under water, Victoria Park being covered several feet deep. Should the weather continue fine the officials have every confidence the trots will be held to-morrow, as the -track is hard and dries quickly. The Omoto racecourse is now from eight to ten feet tinder water. -The general opinion is that the river will not come over the wharf, as the rain ceased at an early hour this morning. Yesterday's continuous rain gave a warning. It i s not anticipated there will he any loss of stock, but the damage in the country will be great.