AFTERMATH OF FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 12

AFTERMATH OF FLOODS.

DRYING HAY SCATTERED

..I ... i. ' ■— IIiAMAGF. TN CANTERBURY. "t ■ .MIDLAND, RAILWAY BLOCKED. SUSPENSION OF TRAFFIC. / I ROADS AND CROPS SUFFER. fUV TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ■ J CHKISTCHURCH. Thursday. A change of tlie wind brought a welcome clearance in the weather during the night and to-day U'as beautifully fine, so that the Hood waters rapidly disappeared. The resultant damage, although very heavy, will Jiot bo as great as was anticipated. The roads have suffered severely and in many places are impassable. At Ashburton the damage to the main south road on the south side of the traffic bridge prevented through ■traffic until late in the afternoon.

The Midland railway line is still blocked, damage assessed at several thousands of pounds having been done to the track between Springfield and Avoca as the result of scouring and washouts. No mail trains we're able to get through to-day, but with a gang of about 60 men working at full pressure there is every prospect of their getting through tomorrow. All mails to and fiom the West Coast have been held up in the meantime.

.According to the, railway officials the suspension of tHe traffic is the most serious that has occurred on this side of the Alps tor some years, lbe damage is most extensive near Kowai Bush, ■where it may be necessary to put in .1 deviation. The distance between the places that have been damaged precludes the possibility of any transhipment of mails or passengers. Between Staircase and Kowai Bush, a distance of six miles, the track is undermined for a length of about 80ft. in one place and for about 80ft. in another. A big slip also fell across the line.

A scour between Springfield and Annat, about three-quarters of a mile from Springfield station, marooned a goods train for 24 hours. Progress either forward or backward was prevented by the volume of water flowing across the track. The train was released at 10 a.m. today and it continued to Springfield.

* Reports from the districts beyond Springfield to-day state that the weather is fine, so that the special gangs of workmen, including a trainload of 40 who left Middleton at short uotice this morning, will be able to make uninterrupted progress with the restoration work. No damage is reported on any other section of the railway in Canterbury.

In all parts of the province crops both standing and "cut have suffered extensively. Losses of stock are reported from MidCanterbury, and total losses have occurred of the oats in stook and grass cut for hay and seed. Large areas of wheat and oats, the straw of wliich has been softened by the long wet spell, are laid flat. Late sowings of turnips are ruined.

.GAP IN MAIN ROAD

WASHOUT AT ASHBURTON. NARROW ESCAPE OF CARS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ASHBURTON', Thursday. A gap 80ft. long and 10ft. deep was cut in, the main south road by the overflowing of tlie Ashburton River yesterday. The sun is shining to-day, but livers in the country are still in high flood. , ; Many motor-cars took a big risk in crossing tlie water on the road yesterday and, as the metal was washing away beneath the wheels, several had narrow escapes from being swept to deep water. The passengers in one service car became terrified when in the middle of the flood, and demanded that the driver return. He did so, dropped his passengers, and went across safely with a margin of only a few inches inches outside the wheels.-

The sunken road alongside the main road is still deep under water. Meanwhile Ithe railway is conveying passengers end cars past the gap.

GALE AT DARGAVILLE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAVILLE. Thursday.

; A severe gale was experienced last night, the wind reaching a very high velocity, especially on the west coast beaches, where seaside residences met the full force.. Fortunately no great damage was done and by early morning the wind liad died down considerably. Farmers who had hay drying in paddocks were the worst sufferers, hay being scattered in all directions and piled up egainst fences.