FLOODS IN SOUTH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 73, 23 February 1945, Page 4

FLOODS IN SOUTH

WATERS NOW SUBSIDING MANY NARROW ESCAPES (Press Assn.) TIM-VRUj Feb. 22 'The rain which fell for more than 50 hours throughout South Canterbury, causing the heaviest floods in the history of the province, ceased early this Snins and by tonight th® hjjd gone down considerably. Practically every river in the district broke its banks, inundating big stretches ot country and causing widespread damd=Fears were entertained on Wednesday night for the safety of a number of marooned settlers at Milford and hutholders on the Opihi River reserve but the latest reports indicate that all are safe though they had a trying ordeal. The water on the Opihi reserVe rose several feet above the previous highest level, one man being fontd to seek safety on the roof of hts U ln the Pleasant Point area one hut was washed away but the occupants are safe. The people marooned in a bus on a bridge in this area were rescued by horse and the bus was drau n to safety by a tractor A short time after the river washed away the approach to the bridge, causing a scour 15 feet wide. A number of bridges have been washed away in various parts of the country, but it is not possible yet to ascertain the extent of the stock lOl iV Timaru the water is still several feet deep on the airport, but the houses in Saltwater Creek which yesterday were surrounded were today dry and the residents returned. No trains arrived or departed today but early this evening cars reached Timaru from Christchurch after receiving assistance at the Selwyn River. The South express which was held at St. Andrews on Tuesday night through a washout is still there, hut the mails were brought to Timaru today by Army lorries which performed great service throughout the district during the period of flooding.