BRAVE RESCUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23919, 20 March 1941, Page 8

BRAVE RESCUE

WOMAN AND CHILDREN RIDER SWIMS HORSE FIVE HAZARDOUS TIJIPS [m* TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] TIMARU. Wednesday areas in South Canterbury inundated by flood waters to-day, but the rain ceased late this afternoon, after which the waters receded rapidly. This has been practically the first break in five days, the average full throughout the district being over Gin. At Orari Gorge the total was J] Jin., the highest for 30 years. The heaviest falls were in the hills and when tho water reached the flats few areas escaped. Considering tho great amount of water the damage is surprisingly light and stock losses are not likely to be heavy. Several families had to be evacuated, one at Epworth being marooned for nine hours. Tho police received a call to rescuo a woman and four children as water was flowing through their house. An attempt was made to reach tho house by Mr. S. Oliver at two o'clock this morning, but tho water reached the saddle of his horse and the attempt was abandoned. It was not until 11 o'clock to-day that Mr. Oliver reached the house, when ho found tho children standing on a table and the mother sitting on a sewing machine with the water lapping her arms. .Mr. Oliver took a child on his saddle and had to swim the horse to dry land. Ho made five hazardous trips. At tho Opihi huts women and children had to be rescued in boats and canoes at midnight. Some business men in Temuka township are likely to suffer loss through stock being partly submerged.