FLOOD AT NELSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 12

FLOOD AT NELSON.

SECOND WITHIN A WEEK.

COUNTRYSIDE UNDER WATER.

WASHOUT ON RAILWAY LINE

SERVICE CARS HELD UP.

[I)Y TIXEGRArn. —OWN COIUIKSPONDENT. ] KELSON, Sunday.

For the second time within a week heavy rain has fallen throughout the Kelson district, causing heavy floods and dislocating services. On Friday night a north-easterly gale raged and trees were blown down in various parts. Reports from the country districts indicate that much rain has fallen and that the rivers and creeks arc in flood.

Among the trees which have been uprooted was one which fell across the road at Oldham's Creek, Wakapuaka, three miles from the city. Vehicular traffic was blocked until the tree was cut through and removed. Service cars were held up on all routes. The railway line is again blocked near Brightv.ater, 13 miles south of Nelson, by a washout which occurred on Friday night. The Wairoa River is in heavy flood and it was reported yesterday that the water was still rising. The flat country on the south side of Kohatu is still under water. The morning train could not get through, but a special train was sent out from Nelson to pick up passengers. Mall Services Disorganised.

A report from Takaka yesterday stated that heavy rain continued throughout Friday night. The rivers were flooded and tho countryside was under water. It was still raining heavily. The mail services were disorganised. Large portions of Appleby and Redwood's Valley and other country places are under water owing to the heavy rain. Yesterday all outside sports fixtures were postponed. The JUovc Bridgo at Thorpe has been damaged and the main road between Wakefield and Woodstock at this spot is closed to traffic, pending repairs.

The Lower Moutere road is again deeply flooded and Mr. Hewitt had to Vacate his premises near the Jubilee Bridge, where flcod-waters reached to the tops of fences. The vicinity of tho Swan Hotel, Motuoka, is flooded, while at the other end of the township the road is flooded from the bridge to the Roman Catholic Church. Steamer's Kough Passage.

Tho.steamer Matangi encountered fairly heavy seas on her trip from Wellington to Nelson on Friday night. She arrived outside the entrance at about eight o'clock, but owing to tho north-easterly gale could not bo berthed until 11.15 a.m. The steamer 'Ngaio, making the crossing in the opposite direction, arrived at Wellington at the usual time, 6 a.m. A big sea was running in the bay yesterday. On Friday night telephone and telegraph communication with Blenheim and Motueka was interrupted. Five trees fell across the lines on the Wakapuaka Road and llood-waters caused the trouble at Motueka. I3oth lines were restored yesterday morning. While the linesmen were working at Wakapuaka more trees came down.

No overland mails, with the exception of the Nelson mail to Blenheim, were either sent out or received yesterday. Flood-waters held up tho cars. The West Coast mail car got as far as Belgrove, 22 miles south of Nelson, and had to return to Nelson.