NORTH OTAGO FLOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21114, 23 February 1932, Page 8

NORTH OTAGO FLOODS.

WATER NOW SUBSIDING.

LOSSES AWONG STOCK.

WHEAT AND OATS RUINED. 1

DELAYS ON THE RAILWAY.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] OAMARU. Monday.

Throughout tho North Otago district the flood waters are subsiding. The Kaka. nui River has dropped nearly 10ft. For the last few miles of its course the banks are dotted with carcases of sheep, cows, pigs and rabbits. In one place near the township of Kakanui, 13 miles south of Oamaru, there are two heaps of dearl sheep, comprising tho entire flock of 260 head belonging to one farmer. Of a herd of 13 cows belonging to one estat« nine were drowned. Another farmer lost 16 stud lambs.

Along the coast, in tho vicinity of the Kakanui River mouth there arc to be seen the carcases of animals brought down by the heavy volume of water, also great quantities of tree branches, gorsc, fencing posts, and the wreckage of fishing huts.

Heavy seas on Saturday did damage to several boats .in the Oamaru roadstead by driving them on the rocks and at Kakanui and Waianakarua, 18 inile 3 south from Oamaru, pleasure boats were swept out to sea. The chief losses in the district, however, are in stock and,.crops and it. is yet too early to obtain full particulars. Acres of wheat and oats have been destroyed. The only thing that can save many crops in stook is stiong diying winds. Main South Road Clear. The Kuri Creek, at Hampden, which caused all the trouble to road and rait services on Saturday, is almost back to normal and the main south road is clear with the exception* of a foot of water at • Maheno. The road to Kurow and through to Central Otago via Lindis Pass is now clear. On Sunday afternoon seven of the. aeroplanes returning from the Invercargill air pageant called at Oamaru and picked up 40 bags of first-class mail for the North., The chief postmaster, Mr. G. Clark, stated that the balance of the mail held up on Saturday had been forwarded by the express to-day. Stranded Passengers Leave. It was with intense relief that the passengers stranded at Oamaru over the week-end found that they would be able to continue their journey north to-day. The mid-day express left Dunedin with 261 passengers and over 100 joined the train at Oamaru. Drawn by two engines, the express proceeded to Otaio. It carried approximately 700 cases of fruit from Central Otago. Only first-class mail matter, light parcels and hand luggage were carried in the way of other freight, 'lo aid in transhipping at Otaio, the stationmaster at Mr. C. A. Legge, the goods foreman and a dozen porters, travelled with, the train. A fleet of motorbuses and lorries f:rotii?Timaru and Waimate was waiting,-and no time was lost in transferring passengers and freight between the two train's. The gap to ba covered is only seven miles by rail, but by road it is 11' miles. The express from Cliristchurch brought perishable goods in the way of fruit , for Invercargill, Gore, Kurow and Oamaru, totalling 570 cases. This was safely transhipped and tho express, with 209 passengers, returned to. Oamaru. It departed for Dunedin at five o'clock, just three hours behind schedule. Goods Traffic Cancelled.

A similar service will be carried on tomorrow, and it is anticipated that ft through service by rail will not be possible until "Wednesday, In the meantime all goods traffic between Oamaru and Timaru has been cancelled.

Oyster traffic for stations north of Oamaru has been held back until the line is restored and no great quantities of perishable goods will be carried in the meanwhile.

The work train south of Pareora has repaired the washout at Hook, but at Otaio the washout was too big to fill in, and it was decided to bridge the gap. At Oamaru 1400 sleepers were loaded by railwaymeri from local and near by stations, and at midnight 011 Sunday a train returned- to Otaio, where work is proceeding expeditiously. Railway telephonic communication with Timaru was restored at 1.30 to-day, pJior to which the public telephone had to be used. Passengers, at Oamaru have been advised that washouts have occurred between Waimate and Waihao Downs. The slip at Herbert has been repaired, while at Hampden Palmerston the railway metals are clear -of the water.