RECORD FLOODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1923, Page 2

RECORD FLOODS.

ALL OVER FAST OTAGO. [liY TKLKGRAI’II—I'KIt I*ll KSS ASSOCIATION.] AVI 1.1.1 NOT!>N, April 23 The Secretary of the General I’ost Office has received the following telegram from the P. stmasfer at Dunedin : •'Heavy and continuous rains since Saturday afternoon resulted in floods in Dunedin city and districts. In Dunedin the flood is the heaviest for fifty years. The pillar boxes could not fie cleared, nor the postmen's deliveries made, in St Hilda, Cavcrsham, South Dunedin. Musselburgh. "Woodluiugh. North East Valley, and parts of the city. The railway traffic was completely stopped from Dunedin. (TiuLori reports thaf the railway line smith from there is apparently clear, hut the Tapanui branch is interrupted. Balelulha intimates that six and three-quarter inches of rain fell in -I hours. The line north and south is affected by washouts, and the river is still rising rapidly. Owaka notifies that all traffic has 1 ecu suspended. Two hundred yards of the railway has I.ecu washed out at MaeLennan. Several slips have occurred between lloupapa and Puketiro. Two chains were washed out ot the Hunts Road.

There are two hundred tons of rock on the line between lloupapa and Tawanui. and several minor Mips in other nlnces.

The water is a foot deep in the Ratnnui office.

Mosgiel states that th« water is over the line at Green 1.-laud and Burnside. The Silver Stream River on the Taiori plains near Mosgiel is over the hank, and the Faieri River is hank high at the Outran! Bridge. Lawrence advised that the lira non line I here is interrupted and the rivers and creeks there are in flood. Water is running through the \N aipori and Waitnhuiia offices. The Shag River lias overflowed, damaging the railway road to Dunhack.

Waikouaili reports ihe heaviest rain ever known by the oldest settlors. Middleman'll notifies the Taieri River is at its maximum flood height,.mid is still rising.

Dunedin’s worst experience was at S a.m. to-day. That was high tide time this morning, since when the rain has ceased and the water is subsiding everywhere. The Postmaster adds: —"1 am airaid the full effect of the downpour in the high country will he serious in both the Cluthn and the Taieri districts ill a space of 18 to 'it hours from now.” SOUTHLAND AFFECTED. WELLINGTON, April 23. The following telegram has heel) received by the Secretary cl the General Post Oflice, from the I’osi master at Invercargill:—‘'Owing to heavy rain, the rivers and streams in this district are high, and minor inconveniences are being experienced, owing to small floods. The Malania River is four feet six inches above normal at Gore, hill, only one branch, the Waikaia, is seriously high. No danger seems likely ;U present. It is si ill rising.

The most serious inconvenience is that railway communication wth Dunedin is blocked, through the floods at several points between Dunedin and Clinton. Mails to and from the north are likely to he delayed. great damage. nrxmiKiis leave homes:. DUNEDIN. April 2d. ft may safely he staled that the rainfall experienced in Dunedin and t'e country districts during the week-end has caused more damage than any tall known for very many year-. In all diicttieiis widespread damage ha, Ueii caused. Many puh. tie -on.s have l.v-a witnessed in the city, where probably hiinTetl- ,1 hou.sehnh.lcis have had to vacate their homes, pro!. ably for the iir.-t time in the history ut the city. An oflice has been opened in the city, where homes wa re guaranteed for homeless. and where they were offered tirovisions for the time being. Tile railway services are badly dislocated The express for the north ran only from Oamaru. the first train north being despatched at -1.10 Dor 1 ort Chalmers. The afternoon train for Oamaru got away at o..'V>. nearly three hours late. The express from Christchurch arrived about a quarter oi an flour late. Last night trouble was caused at Pelichet Bay, where the water was badly over the line, and this morning a bad slip occurred near Sawyer's Bay keeping men busy till late this afternoon. Traffic on the main south line, and on the Lawrence, Outram. Catlins. and Otago Central branches is practically suspended, owing to slips. At present the prospects are for a

normal service on the north line tomorrow. There is a prospect of the M)U ui line. Dunedin to Mosgiel, being open to Dunedin. It may he clear in Urn afternoon, the resumption of traffic 1,-ing dependent on the ability of the authorities to clear the many slips. WELLINGTON'S LIGHT FALL. WELLINGTON. April 23. Wellington has r.ot escaped the rain now saturating the country, hut the fall was merely ordinary and very welcome after a fortnight’s sunshine, in the last 1G months only three have recorded a rainfall up to the average. During the rest there has been a little over half, and the period is about the driest experienced. In that time the heaviest fall was in January last, usual!v a dry month.