Many Bridges Damaged Or Swept Away

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6789, 22 February 1932, Page 7

Many Bridges Damaged Or Swept Away

r. RAIN IN FIVE DAYS AT NIMROD DOWNS Per Press Association. TIMARU, Last Night. After two or three months’ drought conditions, heavy rain fell throughout South Canterbury in the latter part of the week, and in the southern cmd of the province flood conditions now prevail. Not for the past 40 years has the Pareora river carried the quantity of water it carried yesterday, and there is hardly a bridge spanning the river which has not been damaged or swept away.

On Thursday tho Pareora was practically dry, but inside 24 hours it was a raging torrent. Tho river broke through protective works in several places, flooding the adjacent land to a considerable depth and over a wide area. In one or two places sheep and cattle were washed away, and even wheat crops were completely Tui/ied. ’’’he railway bridge on the main lino

at Pareora lost seven piles at the northern end, tho bridge sagging over two spans for a depth of two feet. The express from the south was held at Oamaru and the southern passengers were unable to get through, as the coed was badly scoured on the south side of the Pareora road bridge, wliero a groat number of cars was held up. A special train service was run from Timaru to Christchurch to connect with the ferry steamer, which was held back. It was reported from Cave southwards that a heavy fall was experienced, the fall at Nimrod Downs, behind Cave, being 17 inches for five days, of which over 7in. fell in a space of 24 hours.

The rivers north of Timaru are carrying a fair quantity of water, but are not. near the danger mark. There are washouts at Hook and M.a.kikihi, some miles south of Timaru, and it is not known how long it will be beforo road and rail communication with tho south will be re-established. It is believed that considerable damage has been done Waimate county, where several bridges have been swept away.