FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 21 August 1919, Page 5

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

TAIERI PLAINS UNDERS WATER

(BY TELEGRAPH —PBBSS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, Aug. 20. The result of the heavy rain during the last few days is that the whole of the Taieri Plain is practically one vast expanse of water. A breach* was made m the embankment south of Otokia during the night, and this rapidly widened to three chains, allowing ah enormous volume of water to escape from the river and inundate the lower parts of the plain. There are now probably twelve square miles of highclass pastoral and agricultural countr-/ under water.

A drowning fatality occurred to-day near Otokia, the victim being Alfred Lobb, aged about 20 years. It appears the horse he was riding went over the side of the road, and Lobb was washed off its back, being drowned.