HEAVY THAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 10

HEAVY THAW

FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND DIFFICULTIES AT GARSTON RIVERS RISING RAPIDLY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] INVERCARGILL, Wednesday The after effects of the heavy snow which fell up-country over the weekend are now making themselves felt. A heavy thaw has set in and while to-day most of the rivers are in high flood it is anticipated that overnight and to-morrow, especially in the lower reaches, there will be a further rise.

The main centre of the flooding so far has been between Garston and Athol, where yesterday afternoon there was in one place six feet of water over the road. For about a mile there was an almost unbroken sheet of water, the road being impassable. The Garston service car was unable to get through, but passengers on the railway service were transported by railway trolleys over seven miles of badly flooded area and connected with a waiting bus further on. Their troubles were not yet over, however, for rising streams were reported ahead and it was thought wiser to make a detour through Gore. The bus arrived in Invercargill about midnight, approximately five hours late. Flooding was also reported from a number of other districts. Several washouts occurred on the Invercargill-King-ston road, but repairs are being made. SECOND WELLINGTON STORM AIR TRIPS CANCELLED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Another westerly storm, with a particularly boisterous wind, was experienced in Wellington to-day. Early this morning a maximum gust of 67 miles an hour occurred. Rain fell during most of the day. The trips of Cook Strait Airways were cancelled.