ABNORMAL RAINFALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21113, 22 February 1932, Page 8

ABNORMAL RAINFALL.

FLOODS IN SOUTH ISLAND. WASH-OUTS ON RAH-WAY. COTTAGE SWEPT OUT TO SEA. MAROONED MEN RESCUED. [by telegram:.—own correspondent.] OAMARU, Sunday. Torrential rains, that commenced early on Thursday and still continue, are having a disastrous effect upon the whole countryside. The flood waters are reminiscent of the great inundation of 1878. Great loss of slock is feared and the country districts are in a bad way. Boad communication between Dunedin and Timaru is blocked past Hampden to the south and Studholine to the north. The railway services have been dislocated, due to wash-outs on the line north of Studholme. Yesterday's Christchurch express arrived an hour late, and as the line was impassable to limaru, the railway officials decided to return the train to Dunedin. An effort was first made to transport tho passengers by road, but this was found impossible owing to the washouts. Many of the passengers elected to stay at Oatnaru for tho week-end in preference to making the return journey. Motor-car Submerged. A party of two young men and two girls had an unenviable experience after attending a dance at Waihao Downs last night. While fording a creek their car was submerged in the rushing waters. They were able to reach the bank after a thorough soaking, but the car was washed several chains away, a total wreck. Tho Kakanui River is in full flood, and the farmers are having to remove their stock to the higher levels. Crops in stook have mostly been washed away. A large week-end bach at tho river mouth was washed out to sea. Houses at Gemmell's Crossing are all surrounded by water, which is flowing as high as the window-sills. The Main South Boad at Hampden is under 7ft. of water, and another car became a total loSs. At Maheno there is a solid sheet of water from the flourmills to tho township. The water, which lies to a depth of 9ft. on the floor of the mills, is causing considerable damage. Carcases of sheep and cattle, are floating down the river, which is running Ift. the railway bridge. Gap in Main Railway. The railway officials advised this afternoon that the Otaio Bridge is down for a distance of 80ft., and that it may be Tuesday before the expresses can get through. Three men who were marooned at the mouth of the Kakanui River last night spent an anxious timo until a plucky rescue was effected this morning. One of those rescued has*been admitted to hospital suffering from exhaustion. The Waitaki River is in normal flow. The extent of the deluge may be gauged from the fact that 90 points of rain fell in three hours yesterday. The dry spell, which was one of the severest in the history of North Otago, is definitely ended. DAMAGE NEAR KAIKOURA. BLOCK ON MAIN ROAD. TRAFFIC HELD UP AT BRIDGE. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received advice from the postmaster at Clarence Bridge, Kaikoura, to the effect that the approaches to the bridge at Black Miller had been washed away, and a large slip has occurred on the road at Half Moon Bay. north of Kaikoura. It is expected that the service cars will be able to get through to-morrow. PHENOMENAL DOWNPOUR. • FALL OF 10^IN. IN 24 HOURS. [B¥ TELEGRArH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. A rainfall of 10.75 in. fell at Hapuku, seven miles north of Kaikoura, in the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day. At Kaikoura the fall was 2.75 in.

A serious slip came clown on the road 10 miles south of Ksikoura. Tho Public Works overseer has organised a gang of 80 men who hope to clear the road, tomorrow. Several minor wash-outs have occurred. One small bridge was washed away and the Blue Duck Bridge is unsafe for traffic. DOWNPOUR £T DUNEDIN. CITY RESERVOIRS REPLENISHED. ' [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Sunday. As a result of heavy and continuous rain on Friday night and Saturday, road and rail traffic suffered some' interference in the Olago district, but no actual damage is reported. The downpour is welcomed by the city authorities, as it will replenish the storage reservoirs in which supplies had become depleted as a result of the dry spell. MORE RAIN IN HAWKE'S BAY. RIVER FLOODS FARM LANDS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Sunday. Further heavy rain, particularly in the back country, caused th e rivers in Hawke's Bay again to rise during the week-end, tho stopbank in ono locality breaking in three places and flooding the surrounding country to a depth of about. sft. No loss of stock is reported and tho rivers to-nighj; havo fallen considerably. In tho early hours of this morning tho Tutaekuri River rose to a greater height than at any time during the previous wet spell, and about 5 o'clock in tho morning broke in four places on tho Papakura side, allowing tho water to flow over the adjoining farm lands. Tho settlers had had plenty of opportunity to remove their stock. A number of small farmers' homesteads were isolated. At six o'clock this evening both the Tutaekuri and Ngarororo Rivers had fallen several feet and with the cessation of rain they will continue to do to.