Canterbury and Otago

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 45, 22 February 1945, Page 4

Canterbury and Otago

Otago Also Experiences Heavy Flooding UNPRECEDENTED SPEED bp RISE or RIVERS (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, reb. 21. Although the heavy rain of the psst three days eased in the metropohtnu area to-dey continued heevy downpours iu the back country dietilcts melntein ed swollen rivers, particularly the Xalerl and Molyneux, at flood level. In Central Otago and South Canterbury the rain continued well into the night and difficult conditions were created with respect to road and rail traffic. The rain showed little signs of improvement at a late hour to-night. As a result of washouts and bridge damage north of Oamaru it was decided to-night that no further rail traffic to the north was practicable, and as a consequence the Railways Department advised that there would be no expresses north from Dunedin until further notice. In the case of both the Taieri and Molyneux Rivers the most remarkable factor in the flooding has been the rapidity of the rise of the water levels. The Molyneux rose with unprecedented speed and in Inchclntha and Paretai districts settlers who were not inex perienced in the whims and caprices of the river were marooned before they realised that all means of egress from their properties had been cut. , Messages were received from several settlers at Inchchitha and on Clutha Island who were marooned. Lorries loaded with bread and other foodstuffs as well as coal weje despatched from Balclutha. Earlier reports that the settlers were in a dangerous position proved unfounded. The Taieri River broke its banks on Tuesday evening ana to-day between 500 and 1000 acres of farmlands at East Taieri were inundated. Even with the cessation at this stage of local rains the river remains at a high leve' owing to hack country conditions. The damage on the Taieri Plains, which fortunately is confined largely to crops, can scarcely toe estimated at this stage, but it is known to be consider able.