HEAVY DELUGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 10

HEAVY DELUGE

CANTERBURY STORM 14 INCHES OF RAIN TRANSPORT DISORGANISED RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED SEVERE GRAIN LOSSES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday Another heavy rainstorm, the second within a fortnight, swept Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, and the Canterbury Plains last night and to-day. The rainfall has varied greatly in intensity in different areasf In Christchurch since 4.,*30 yesterday afternoon the fall has been about three inches, but in Akaroa more than nine inches fell. In 40 hours the total fall at Akaroa was 14 inches. All rain-fed rivers are in heavy flood and the "Waimakariri, which is not usually affected by south-west rain, is running high. The most serious damage which will bo 'caused by the rain will bo to un» garnered wheat. A great deal of wheat is still out in stook, and there is a fear that much of the grain may sprout and that more of it which may escape this risk will be discoloured by long exposure to the rain. It is impossible to estimate the total extent of this damage, because trouble has already developed in a few districts, but much more serious trouble will follow this storm. Much depends on the weather in the next few days. Town ol Akaroa Flooded On Banks Peninsula damage estimated at £3OOO was done to the cocksfoot crop, and a few sheep were drowned through the flooding of creeks at Wainui, on Akaroa Harbour. The town of Akaroa was flooded in parts by creeks rising. The north end of the town suffered most severely, the main street and recreation ground being nearly two feet under water. Some families had to leave their homes. The roads ih the valleys were deeply scoured, and many slips fell on practically every road in the district.

The storm in the city and suburbs was the worst for several years. The Avon overflowed its banks in the Avonside district, and in low-lying parts of the suburbs, where the storm wate? drainago was inadequate to cope with the unprecedented run-off, the roads were awash. Avonside Drive was covered by two feet of water for several chains, and residents were unable to leave their houses.

Suburban Homes Isolated Surface flooding occurred in St. Albans, where some residents had to wade through water nearly knee-deep to leave their homes. No houses were flooded. Flooded creeks, slips, and washouts have disorganised the transport services throughout Canterbury. Some trains were delayed, others had to be cancelled, and service cars were unable to got to their destinations. The railway between Rotherham and Waiau was washed out, and trains could not pass, the passengers being taken on by motor. Washouts occurred near Mina and Tormore, on the Cheviot line, and at Staircase on the West Coast line a slip stopped all trains and passengers had to pass on foot for 100 yards. No Trains North

At Sefton minor washouts occurred, and 110 trains will run north of Rangiora to-morrow. A Southbridge line was blocked by four washouts near Ellesmere, but trains may be able to run today. '

Road transport was blocked in many districts. Cheviot is isolated, ajid residents cannot go more than three miles in any direction. The Hurunui River is flowing level with the bridge decking, and it is feared the bridge may be damaged. Service cars for Kaikoura were held up at Deep Creek, and no mails or passengers went north of that point to-day. The Lees Valley Road is blocked by slips, and the north approach to the bridge on the Ashley Gorge Road has been washed away by the flood. Downpour In South Canterbury At a late hour to-night there were prospects of heavy flooding throughout South Canterbury. Light rain fell throughout the day at Timaru, but early this evening there was a torrential downpour, upward of two inches being recorded in some parts in three hours. The rivers and creeks are all running high, and unless the rain ceases there will probably bo heavy floods to-mor-row. A good many farmers have not yet threshed their wheat and oat crops, and heavy losses are likely. Many paddocks are almost submerged, and the quantity of surface water about is greater than at any period in the past seven or eight years.

MAIN ROAD BLOCKED CONDITIONS IN WAIKATO DETOUR THROUGH KAIPAKI I.FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Thursdny The heavy rain which fell in Hamilton yesterday totalled over an inch and brought the rainfall for the last two days up to 2.73 in., and for tlio month to to-day up to 7.63 in., as against 3.10 in., the average rainfall for February., There was intermittent rain again to-day Owing to the heavy rain and the reconstruction work in progress tim Main South Road at Mystery Gully, between Kukuhia and Ohaupo, is at present impassable, and south-bound traffic is required to make a detour at the Rukulua factory through Kaipaki before rejoining the Main South Hoad two and a-half miles north of Ohaupo. The road near the Ohaupo school is in a bad condition and caro is needed when driving over it, GISBORNE'S EXPERIENCE UNUSUALLY HEAVY FALL [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] GISBORNE. Thursday Unusually hcavv rain has fallen in the Gisborne district this month. Last night there was further heavy rain and l.SGin. was recorded for the 24 hours to !) a.m. to-day. A total of 1.14 in. foil between 3 .p.m. yesterday and 9 a.m. to-day. The fall for the month has reached 6.62in. t 3.ltiin. above the average for February.