DESTRUCTION BY FLOOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 10

DESTRUCTION BY FLOOD.

FIERCE STORM IN OTAGO. LAWRENCE SUFFERS HEAVILY BUSINESS AREA INUNDATED. FIREBELL WARNS RESIDENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The heaviest flood experienced in Lawrence took place last night, when HosS Place, the business portion of the town, was inundated to a depth of from 3ft. to 6ft. Rain had fallen incessantly for two days and all the creeks we if- running bank-high The flood waters m Weatherstcne's Creek undermined the railway embankment at the back of the town, and a washout of half a-chain allowed the flood waters to pour into the hospital creek. The combined waters of th*se two streams made a detour through the main street. The tirebell was rung at 10 p.m. to warn shopkeepers and residents, but the majority had removed to what they thought a safe height. However, they did not' anticipate such a heavy inrush of water.. The shopkeepers will be heavy losers, and extensive damage has been done to many premises. Practically only three shops escaped the visitation. Quite a number of -residents had to be rescued at midnight by motor-buses and cars. The water was up to the tops of the counters m some shops and all business is now at a standstill. The shops were unapproachable at noon to-day and the Bank of New Zealand building had 3ft. of water in it, Messrs. Herbert and Co.'s premises 4ft., and the Lawrence Meat Company sft. The weather has now cleared. The train services on this Lne .are dislocated owing to several washouts. AT 3 p.m. the flood water had subsided and a very disastrous state oi affairs was disclosed. The whole of the main street presented a sorry appearance, being covered by silt several inches deep. On the north side of the street the silt is from 2in. to 3in. deep in some of the houses. Furniture, including pianos, has suffered extensive damage A butchery firm took in a fresh stock of meat on Tuesday night, and the water completely covered the carcases as they hung on the hooks. The force of the flood is shown by the fact that two galvanised iron gates, each sft. by 4ft., were carried along Ross Place and lodged against a verandah post 75yds. away. Various theories are advanced concerning the rainfall, which is phenomenal for this district, and which totalled 3.58 in. for 12 hours. The gradual silting up of the beds of the creeks is also considered to be one of the principal causes of the flood. The town has received a very heavy blow, but at present no reliable estimate can be made of the damage. POSITION AT DUNEDIN. TORRENTIAL RAIN FALLS. SLIPS HOLD UP TRAFFIC. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] DUNEDIN. Wednesday Torrential rain began to fall in Dunedin last late night, and continued throughout to-day. It caused widespread inundation in the country district and extensive flooding in the city for several hours. By ten o'clock this morning the fear of serious trouble had passed, for the wind became less violent and the rain slackened somewhat. An unpiped drain that crosses Shetland Street., Kaikorai, overflowed early this morning, and the water invaded several properties, but this afternoon the stream in it was normal. A record fall of rain has been gauged at Waipori, 2.35 in. having fallen from 10.30 a.m. yesterday to 8 a.m. to-day. This is the highest fall since records were first kept, over 20 years ago. At 8 a.m. sft. of -water was surging over the weir at the tunnel intake, and 3ft. 6in. was going over the top of the dam. The overflow at the weir is not considered serious, as tho overflow in May, 1927, was 13ft'. 6in. The lake this morning was still rising slowly. The Gorge Road has suffered considerably from the heavy rain, and bad slips have occurred. A gang was at work this morning repairing the damage. All low-lying land on the Taieri Plain was under water at mid-day, the plain looking like a lagoon with a few islets. All the small streams have overflowed and the larger ones are bank .high. The contour channel has burst its banks in several places. No losses of stock have been reported, but farm work will receive another setback. The rain ceased during the afternoon and the flat, where fear o.f flood was great, resumed a normal appearance. Big slips on the Peninsula Road have held up traffic. The rail services to Lawrence and Outruns are interrupted and road transit is dangerous. A great deal of damage has been done, although the full extent will not be known nntil later. * CONDITIONS AT MERCER. WATER COVERS ROADWAY. TRAFFIC NOT AFFECTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MERCER, Wednesday. In view of steady rain to-day, a further rise is expected in the Waikato River at Mercer. There are 15in. of water on the road at the back of the station, but the stretch is easily passable for motor traffic. The work of raising the road is not yet sufficiently advanced to keep back the flood waters. THE OPOTIKT DISTRICT. SLIP ON WHAKATANE ROAD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRE ONDENT.] OPOTIKI, Wednesday. Exceptionally wet weather has been experienced here for the past few days. Heavy rain yesterday and to-day resuitc-d in low-lying grounds being submerged. A large slip on the main Whakatane Road has caused a great deal of .trouble, traffic having to be diverted via Paerata ridge. A slip on Meremere Hill is also causing delay to-day but it is confidently hoped to have both roads open to-night*