HEAVY FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND.

Lake County Press, Issue 2115, 26 April 1906, Page 4

HEAVY FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND.

The continuous heavy rain which fell from Thursday evening till midnight on Friday was responsible for serious floods in some parts of Southland, especially in the Western District. The rivers all rose much above their ordinary level, and in nearly all instances overflows took place, causing considerable damage to crops and stock. It is estimated that, on the average, farmers have half their crops in barn or stack; and the remaining half, in stook or field, is certain to have sustained material damage. Eeports from Waikaia state that a large portion of the flat was under water and that the damage to crops was considerable. For miles between Dipton and Lumaden the Oreti Kiver was in high flood, and hundreds of sheaves were carried away. The damage seemed greatest at Caroline, where the railway was under water for about half a mile Saturday’s trains, however, managed to crawl through with difficulty. In the main street of Otautau the water was 12 inches deep. Several houses were invaded by the deluge, but fortunately the water did not rise sufficiently high to force, the occupants to abandon their homes. The subsidence commenced about mid-day on Saturday, and late in the afternoon the water was going down fast. There was a washout on the Kingston line near Athol, but it did not interfere with traffic. At Lumsdon the watezwas high, but the train got through at, reduced speed.