FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20536, 10 April 1930, Page 10

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

AREAS ROUND NELSON.

ROADS.AND RAIL BLOCKED.

SETTLERS' HOMES SURROUNDED

WATER EIGHT FEET OVER ROAD

[BY TELEGRAFII. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] NELSON, Wednesday.

Following ten weeks of dry weather extremely heavy rain fell last night in tho Motucka district and as far back as Tapawera, causing floods in tho Moutere Valley, and slips that have blocked tho railway linn near Spooner's Range. Road traffic was suspended between Nelson and Motueka and between Murchison and Nelson. *

There was a downpour all night in the Spooner's Raogo area. A largo slip came out of a guljy on the Tapawera sido of the tunnol under Spooner's Range. It foil into tho cutting immediately at the ontranco and blocked tho tunnel. The rain continued to fall heavily, and the water backed up into tho tunnel. The Nelson-Kawatiri train, which left Nelson at 7.45 a.m. to-day, is still at Belgrove waiting for tho line to be cleared. Largo gangs wero sent to work on tho slip.

Advice was received later that tho Belgrove end of the tunnel also had been completely blocked by a large slip. A relief gang train was sent out, but at present tho extent of tho slip ii not known. .

The road is flooded and blocked by slips at the foot of Spooner's Range, and in Belgrove, and no traffic is expected through from the Murchison end until to-morrow at the earliest. There aro also other smaller slips on the line from the far end of the tunnel to Kohatu. The service cars between Nelson and Motueka returned to their starting points this morning, after going to the vicinity of the Jubilee Bridge in the Lower Moutere Valley, where there were Bft. of water over the road. The heavy rain which fell in this district last night has abated a little to-day. All the countrysido in the Lower Moutere Valley is flooded. A number of houses are surrounded, but so far no families have had occasion to leave their homes. There are two slips across the road between the Upper Moutere and the Jubilee Bridge, and the service car drivers had to move some of the debris before they were able to get past. During, the night there were heavy showers in the city, 1.50 in. falling up to 9 o'clock this morning. During the morning there were several showers, and this afternoon it rained steadily. No flooding is reported, although there is a fresh in the Matai Bjver and Brook Stream.