FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 14

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

* DAMAGE AT NELSON.

#EAVY JOLL OF PROPERTY,,

RAPID RISE OF STREAMS.

;;;; WATER - ENTERS DWELLINGS.

VjfiT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] " "' NELSON, Tuesday. ,ff -Following upon exceptionally heavy rain yesterday, the worst flood in the city for .wover 20 years was ■ experienced last night. :.The Maitai River and the Brook Street -stream rose rapidly and at about 10.30 a.m. were at their height. The Maitni River rose about ten feet while the Brook Street Stream in its narrow confines was ..•running about fifteen feet above normal. ; Extensive damage was done to property along tho banks in the city. Streets . .were flooded and business premises were invaded. The low-lying portions of tho , town to the westward carried several feet of water, while in Waimea Street between Hardy and Bridge Streets the sewers burst anjJ portions of the road buckled in. In Brook Street several washouts occurred . and a gas main was washed away, cutting off tho supply in this part of the outlying .area.

In the country districts large areas were flooded and small bridges were washed away. Communications by road were broken. t/ The train services were also temporarily suspended. The severity of the rain can be judged from the fact that 4.26 inches fell f"r the 24 hours up to 9 o'clock this morning, making 9.11 inches for the year to date. Bursting o! Sewer. Tho water entered many business premises/and dwellings. The Waimea Street sewer could not accommodate the extraordinary amount of storm-water and about 8 o'clock the water was gushing up' four'feet high from the man-hole at Gould's corner. Even this did not relieve the pressure, sufficiently and the sewer burst in various points in the street. Ahzac, ;Park, was a miniature lake all night and people .on their way to work -this morning had to make a detour.

■ Cock and Company's offices were flooded by the water, but there was little harm done. Most of tho residences and other cbuildings in Waimea Street between .Bridge and Hardy Streets were flooded and in some cases damage was done to

floor coverings, wallpapers, etc. In lower Hardy Street, between Waimea and Van- . guard Streets, the water was a foot deep ' in most of the buildings and the street .when the water was at its highest was covered to a depth of 2ft. 6in. " The whole of Vanguard Street from Haven Road past Kirkpatrick's jam factory was part of a huge lake. . Some of the houses became untenable and cars were requisitioned to carry the occupants to the houses of more fortunate friends.

pv Silt in Railway Yaid. f Considerable damage was done Messrs. Neale and Haddow s offices and store. . A quantity of bran and pollard m sacks was ruined and even the safe became full of water. _ The water was up to the doorsteps of Kirkpatrick s factory but did not come inside. The lost Boy Hotel was flooded twice during the f The railway, yard was left inches deep in,silt, this morning. Mr. Hornblow, the chief clerk, and his family had to leave their house before midnight. . Part of the bank between the fives courts at Kelson College has been •washed oil to the maiii playing area. A sheet of water covers the Y.M.C.A. tennis fourts and extends to the back of the lank of New Zealand premises. The flood-waters in Montgomery s garage were over 2ft. in depth at the maximum last night and this afternoon there was ,still a foot of water in the central part, of the garage. An TJnfortuna.te Owner.

1 The Brook Street stream took heavy toll of property adjacent to its banks. Wash-outs occurred in several parts_ of Brook' Street, taking with them the 3in. gas main and leaving people in the vicinity without light. Gardens were swept and" footbridges washed away.Perhaps the worst sufferer from the flood isi Miss Turton (of the Tourist Office and formerly of Wellington), whose property is situated in a bend of the Brook Stream,, almost opposite Harper Street. The floods some months ago carried away a portion of her property and the owner, decided to put in a concrete wall with iron railings to reinforce it. The work was commenced last week. About 9.30 p.m. the iirst signs of danger were evidenced and the .contractor obtained his men and endeavoured to divert the water with sacks, filled with grave* which had been deposited on the roadway for the concrete. > The flood gradually got the upper hand and. the water got behind the protecting stone bank and ate its way under the house, carrying away all Miss Turton's garden tools, lawnmower, wood and a number of other articles. A large portion of the property had also been carried down the flooded stream by this time ~~ and those engaged in the operations

•were helpless. At about 11.30 o'clock the stone wall gave way with a crash that could be heard above the pouring waters 40 yards away. Gradually ■ a portion of the bank ■yoderneath the housu was eaten away. "A" concrete path leading down to the stream fell and a couple of piles supporting the house were next swept away, while others were lelt suspended to the ■floor. The greater portion of Miss Turton's property vanished, including the garden, in which the owner took so much pride. . Further Damage Done. Continuing-its "course the stream took & .corner of Mrs. Griffin's property on the western bank away and then changed its -course and swept away r4 portion of Mr. o.' Hamilton's property, including a foot,bridge. Further- do v. n the vvater gouged out a portion of the bank on the Wainui Ilonsc properly and that of Mr. Gr. .Wharton. •The River Maitai, which was carrying a' vast volume of water late last night, did a. good deal of i]aruago to property along its banks.