SERIOUS FLOODS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22140, 20 June 1935, Page 10

SERIOUS FLOODS

SOUTHLAND INUNDATED INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES LUMSDEN HOMES ENTERED RESIDENTS' ANXIOUS NIGHT [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] INVERCARGILL. Wednesday Although the position is now improving after a fine clay hold-ups of rail and road services have occurred throughout the province because of serious flooding. Wash-outs were reported on a number of branch lines, and this afternoon the main road to Riverton was covered by four feet of water. At Iron Bridge, just past Wallacetown, this afternoon the road was completely blocked and those who had come in to Invercargill in the morning were unable to get hack. A party of schoolchildren, who had come from the Riverton side to school, had to spend the night with friends on the Invercargill side of the flooded road. Removal of Furniture Lumsden residents had a trying time last night when the flood waters surrounded residences in the tow nship, some of them finding it necessary to shift their furniture to a place of safety. The waters there began to recede early this morning, bringing relief to those who had been anxiously watching the rise of the flood.

Considerable damage has been done to the roads in the Lumsden district and recently-repaired fences have been extensively damaged. The Aparima River broke its banks this morning and at Otautau its waters spread from the bridge to the township. Last night was an anxious and strenuous one for the farmers on the flat between Fairfax and Thornbury, and practically all were out until this morning looking to the safety of their own and their neighbours' stock. In some cases serious losses were suffered, one farmer losing over 80 sheep and another 40. Wide Expanse of Water There was also heavy flooding in Eastern Southland to-day. The Mataura River rose rapidly during the night and was eight feet above normal at 5 p.m. The Waikaka River was the highest for many years, flooding being extensive at McNab and in the Waikaka Valley districts.

There is a wide expanse of water over the countryside at McNab, the floods extending from the railway for a mile across the flats. The main North Road is covered to a depth of five feet and the bridge is the only dry spot from the railway to Cunningham's Bill. The mail train from Dunedin, due at 1.10 p.m.. did not reach Invercargill until nearly three o'clock on account of -a wash-out at Lovell's Flat. The express from Christchurch arrived on time this evening. Although there is much surface water lying about Invercargill there has been no flood in the city.

HEAVY DUNEDIN RAINS SOUTHERN ROADS BLOCKED WASH-OUTS ON RAILWAYS [BY TELEGBAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION ] DUNEDIN, "Wednesday After 37 hours of continuous rain road access to Dunedin from the south is completely severed by flood waters. There is four feet over the road at Clarksville Junction, near Milton, and the same depth at Otokia, The Roxburgh highway is blocked at Waitahuna and the Middlemarch highwav at West Taieri.

Train services are considerably disorganised. Express trains to and from Invercargill were delayed an hour by a wash-out at Benhar. There was also a big wash-out last night at Port Chalmers, but the line was cleared for this morning's trains. The Outram line is under water, and all services have been cancelled, while the Otago Central train was delayed by wash-outs between Salisbury and Hindon.

The only city flooding is at South Dunedin.