SUDDEN FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 8

SUDDEN FLOODS

CANTERBURY AREAS PHENOMENAL RAIN FALLS HAVOC IN TWO VALLEYS EXTENSIVE WASHOUTS ISOLATION OF TRAIN [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday Disastrous floods occurred early yesterday morning in valleys and flats on the southward slopes of Banks Peninsula facing the shores of Lake Ellesmere. The total rainfall in Christchiireh in 24 hours was about 4in., tho heaviest for four years at least, and most of it fell in tho early hours of yesterday morning.

In tho city tho damage was negligible. The Hoathcoto River, held back by a high tide, stopped the outfall of two storm-water drains and this led to streets being lightly flooded. Moorehouse Avenue and Spreydon were the parts most affected. When the tide receded and the rain slackened about noon, the storm-water soon disappeared.

None of the large rivers, which are all snow-£ed, flooded at all, and other rain-fed streams on the plains, while running high, did no damage. Deluge on the Hills

Excessive floods on the limited area below Banks Peninsula were caused by a rainstorm of extreme severity early yesterday morning. Two beautiful little valleys, Price's Valley and Kaituna Valley, were laid waste on the lower levels by raging floods. On tho hilltops and southern slopes the delugo caused a phenomenal run-off into the valleys, and little streams which ordinarily wind slowly to Lako Ellesmere became fierce, swift torrents, sweeping all before them.

In Price's Valley six small bridges were either swept away or were damaged, and had the approaches scoured out. Roads, where the current had passed over them, were stripped of shingle and turned into watercourses. Whole areas of tilled land were stripped of soil. One settler lost a field of 11 acres of potatoes ready for digging. Not only were the potatoes washed out, but all the soil also. Main Road Impassable

The main road to Little River runs round the base of the hills past the mouths of these valleys. This road was deeply flooded yesterday, and still impassable to-day. Flood-waters coursing down from the valleys caused several wash-outs in the Little River railway line fringing the lake, which acted as a stopbank, and a small train was isolated at Kaituna, 26 miles from Christchurch.

It passed over a culvert, which, already weakened, was shaken by the weight of the train and was promptly washed away. A few chains further on the train was stopped by a washout, so that it had to stay on its little island. A repair gang subsequently packed the culvert temporarily, and the carriages were brought toward the city, but the engine still remains there. The whole line is covered with debris, mostly logs and boulders, and will not be clear until to-morrow.

Torrent Through Township At Little River, a low-lying township at the head of Lake Forsyth, about 36 miles from Christchurch, the water rose to the level of the railway station platform before it receded. On the main road through the township water ran in a five-knot stream at a depth of two or three feet. Little news is yet available from the township, but it is stated the damage was severe, and that stock losses were also serious. But for the low level of both Lake Forsyth and Lake Ellesmere, which allowed the flood-waters to get away, the damage would have been much more severe.

On the slopes whero this torrential rain fell the land rises from the plain fairly steeply to a height of 3000 ft., so the floods rose with alarming suddenness. At Motukarara, at the base of the hills, the rainfall was 12in., and at Akaroa, 11.43 in. At Ataahua, between Christchurch and Little River, there was water in the post office deep enough to extinguish fires.

DOWNPOUR IN OTAGO LITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED MINOR SLIP ON RAILWAY [BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT] DUNEDIN, Saturday For more than 4S hours continuous rain has been experienced in Otago, but practically no damage has been reported. The rain was at its heaviest for two hours last night, and although there was an easing this morning, the Forbury Park racecourse was in such a condition that the stewards decided not to race to-day, the concluding day of the meeting being postponed until Tuesday. All other outdoor sports fixtures, except first grade Soccer matches, were also postponed. Sinco the rain started on Thursday at 9.30 a.m. nearly 3in. had fallen. The reading at 9 a.m. to-day at the Musselburgh pumping station was 1.l Bin. for the 24 hours.

The Leith was running fairly high last night, but the level had fallen this morning. The stream lias not banked up at any stage to a height to cause alarm to near by residents. Tho bad weather has not held up tho train services. The only slip was a small ono at Poolburn, on the Central Otago line, which was cleared without delay. The rain was much lighter in tho city and country districts this morning, and as the day advanced the conditions showed a general improvement. Indications to-night were that tho weather was likely to bo more settled.

WELLINGTON CONDITIONS MINOII FLOODING OCCURS [by telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Sunday Heavy rain caused some delay 011 tho waterfront yesterday. Several slips arc reported and several roads in the district are flooded. A temporary bridge at Porirua on the main highway has become unsafe for traffic and rivers generally are running high.