FLOODS IN OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19069, 15 January 1924, Page 7

FLOODS IN OTAGO

LAKE WAKATIPU FLOWS. PORTION OF TOWN SUBMERGED. WATER INVADES BUILDINGS BATH HOUSE PARTIALLY HIGHEST FLOOD SINGE ’7B. JvßOii Oub Own CokißSSbonxiknt.) 0U ivEiNor OW A, January 14. Never suKo i>ie 'lit noon nas juaive Waaabeen in such Hood as it is m ro-uay. Uu several occasions since that uioionc visitation Heavy ram ana meitmg snows in mo uacß country have orouguv me nave up to within imoo or lour mcnes ot tno top oi me queensi.own brea.lcwat.er, but an improvement in me wearner conoiuons navmg loiiuwed quicKiy in eacii instance Uie uangor ol hooa in the town nas been aveiieo. this time, novvever, wo nave not been so loi'Ulnaie. ittu'iy m tno vvoeK ram toil at ireqaent intervals, ana the laite rose steadily, out not even on hnaay anu catmuay, wnen me ram was lainy continuous, v.as any alarm ten. Hie lake was suh rising ranimy oy imd.n. on Oatiiruay/' iVieaSUiemciits laaeu snowed 24m , lor me preceding tA hours, ana the water was up to me Xcua level ol a coupio of iucheo below tne top ol me broaawater. Iho ram was still danug, and me barometer was not encouraging. Even .men me worst was not learod. WAFER. FN'iEKS I Lit vvN. ibuuaay uawned uue ana sunny, but me lake nan come up just over me bieauwater uunng tne uignt. a owards noon tne sky ciouued over, and rain commencoa to ran, aim tne wind, wnicn. Uau need blowing Irom tno norm, veered round to tne suum-jvost. dins move tne lane into me lower portion ol me town, and in tno space oi a lew minutes the ivianne paruuo and Rees street and the lower end ol Beach street were a running sea. me buildings on the lower side were quickly mvaued. The Mount Cook company a oince at the oorner ot Rees and mnarat streets sunered most irom' me intruder. Gradually me regular pulsations brougnt tiro water on to tne aspnalt pavement on the opposite side of xvees Street, and the owners or occupants of these premises set about fortitymg themselves with sandbags as* well as removing meicnaiKuse and household effects into places oi saiety. In less than an hour the wind died down, and the water recoded somewhat, only to bo followed a hide later by a repetition ol tno mid-day experience. Ine wind was again short-lived, and the minds ot the property owners were temporarily relieved. ...IBAGGING THE BREAKWATER. A portion of the wooden breakwater roiling was carried away, afld a serious strain was put oh the structure generally. Realising the disaster that would follow any serious erosion along this part of the breakwater, the Borough Council organised a gang of men to strengthen it with sandbags, and throughout me afternoon this operation was cornea out. ihe whole ol the Marine parade Irom the soldiers memorial gale to Horn Greek was submerged, as well as a street ronmng parallel The Coronation fc ßath House, situated on the normal watSrfront, was partially wrecked as the result of the undermining action of the current and the baltenng it received from the waves, ihe doors ol the dressing compartments were wrenched off and the framework was splintered. ’ LAKE CONTINUES TO RISE. Last night the weather cleared, but a falling glass, was not promising. Bar y this morning rain set .in again, and the lake showed another rise ot bin tor less than the 24 hours. The water was now lying in Rees and Beach streets almost from side to side and well across to Church street. However the rain again cleared off, and provided the'weather holds up and the wind does not spring up the town may yet escape any more serious damage and inconvenience. WHARVES- SUBMERGED. The local railway wharf is submerged Sin to 10in, and the approaches are not negotiable. All the wharves on the lakesidl are under water, inoludingGlcnorchy where the lake is up to the Barn slaw Hotel. The decking of this wharf was lifted and the Mount Creighton and Closeburn Station wharves havo disappeared, while the one at Moun Nicholas is stripped and u m danger of breaking up completely. DART AND REES RIVERS IN FLOOD. The Dart and Rees Rivers at the head of the lake were in high flood J e ’ and joined up below Mount Alfred, thus submerging the whole country in this locality. L ’ TELEPHONE LINE DOWN. The telephone linos between Gelnorchy and Paradtst are down in the vicinity of the Rocs River, the polos being washed U The Shotover River is not in high flood, the beach at Arthur’s Point not being covered: hence the course of the Kawarau at the junction is not interfered with, as in 1919, when this river was flowing back into Lake Wakatipu. SHEARING SHED INVADED. \t Mount Nicholas, whore Messrs H. Mackenzie and Sons were shearing the lake has invaded the shod, to a depth of 18in, necessitating a hurried removal to other buildings higher up,, where it is intended to carry on operations. RISE OF 5 FEET 2 INCHES. Measurements taken show that the rise in the lake within the last four days has been • sft 2in, which is 8m to 10m more than in the. January 1919, level, and is the highest in Lake Wakatipu since 1878. All the bad weather has come fram a south-west to westerly direction, but the melting of snow in the glacial regions is considered responsible to a large extent for the abnormal conditions. The steamer service was suspended today' BREAK IN RAILWAY LINE. On Saturday a break occurred m the railway lino near Parawa through the flood in the Eyre Cieek The passengers on the trains had to bridge a gap m drays and cars for a distance of five imles. STEAMER SERVICE RESUMED. RAILWAY LINE CLEAR. The Railway Department advises that the Ordinary .steamer service for Lake Wakatipu will bo resumed to-morrow, and tho railway lino is now clear between Parawa and Kingston. AU traffic is now being accepted as usual. THE RAILWAYS. WASH-OUT REPAIRED. The wash-out on the Wairnea line at Athol has been repaired, and traffic to Kingston and Queenstown will be resumed this morning, the lake steamer taking up its usual running as from to-day. On Saturday night a special train was sent un to the wash-out, where the passengers' were transferred from the other rrain and brought to Dunedin, arriving here at 11.55 n.m. Sr far no trouble has been reported on the Central Otago .or south linos, and the usual time-table has been adhered to.

THE CROMWELL DISTRICT. HEAVY RAIN IN BACK COUNTRY. THE POSITION REASSURING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL. January 14. There was a temporary break in the rainfall late on Saturday afternoon, but in the evening rain was again falling. Throughout Sunday the rain continued in the back country, and the rivers continued to rise. The flood water reached the highest point last night. This morning tne weather was cold and stormv. but this afternoon it showed signs of clearing, and a slight fall in the rivers was noticeable. The flood water did not reach within several feet of the high level reached five years ago. The Superintendent, Telegraph Office, Dunedin, advises:—Cromwell (1.20 p.m.); The Clutha River'shows a drop of 6m.. The Kawarau is still steady. Slight rain fell during the mofning. The weather is unsettled. , , „ , , Cromwell (7 p.m.): Both the Clutha and the Kawarau Rivers show a slight drop. No rain has fallen this afternoon, and :he weather is more settled. ROAD SUBMERGED AT < ETTRICK. RAIN BENEFITS TURNIP CROPS. APPLE CROP DAMAGED BY HAIL STORM. At Roxburgh about Ijin of rain fell on Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday, and yesterday an extremely severe hail storm was experienced. The heavy winds of the past few days have been disastrous to the apple crop, but the turnip crops, which threatened to be a failure, have greatly benefited by the rainfall. Tne river at present is very high, and the road on the west bank between Roxburgh and Miller’s Flat has been blocked for a few clays owing to the water backing over a big area. Traffic at present is confined to the road on the cast bank. On Sunday morning the high winds which have been prevalent of late started again, but by mid-day it calmed somewhat and rain set in. Up to this morning 144 points had fallen. GALES AT NASEBY. EFFECT OF RAIN NULLIFIED, jfaoa OH* Own Cosheipondent.) NASEBY, January 14.. Continuous north-west gales have been raging for the past week. Scattered rain showers have been failing at infrequent intervals, but the beneficial effect is completely lost owing to the dry winds sweeping the country. The season is considered a record one for wind, a calm day being very seldom. POSITION AT BALCLUTHA. SHARP RISE IN RIVER. BARNEGO ROAD FLOODED. HEAVY RAIN FALLING. (From Ode Own Correspondent ) BALCLUTHA, January 14, In consequence of heavy rain up country the Molyneux at Balclutha rose on Saturday somewhat sharply, and in the afternoon the water was over the Barnego road near the quarry, where the rivet bank is unprotected. The water also overflowed on to the road at Finegand in several places, although not enough to interfere with motors proceeding to Port Molyneux with “week-enders.” There was water across the riverside road between Balclutha and Kaitangata in two or three particularly low-lying parts, but not sufficient to impede wheeled traffic. . The river continued to rise until on Sunday afternoon it was at the 9ft mark above normal at the traffic bridge. By evening it had risen to 10ft, end remained practically stationary all night. Yesterday the weather was fine, although ram threatened, and the river rose very slowly another , two or three inches. One particularly pleasing feature of the rise in so fat as it affected the townspeople was the fact that the lock at the south end, erected by the Kailwav Department a few years ago, worked perfectly, having been closed in time, and there was absolutely no water in the paddocks at the south end near the railway line that are usually partially flooded after rain or a sudden rise in the met. The embankment erected by the Public Works Department on the Otanomomo road at the Waitepeka canal seems to be serving its purpose admirably, but there is water on the road on one side of the bank, and motorists returning from Port Molyneux yesterday morning had to go round by the high road to Balclutha. A later report 0 p.m.) states: Hie rain clouds have broken, and' fairly heavy ram has commenced to fall. Should there be a continuance of this m combination with the high river caused by the ram m Central Otago, it is probable that there may b °rh 0 Telegraph office, Dunedin, reports:—“Balclutha (11-30 a.m.): Port Molyneux reports that the Otanomomo Settlement has not yet been seriously affected The Otanomomo embankment is leaking.’ Water is coming over the embankment near Paretai punt at high tide, and a gang of workmen is trying to stop it If the river rises any more a Hood cannot be averted. The river shows a rise here of about, two inches since 9 a.m. A later report (8 p.m.) states The river has risen about 2i inches since midday. The Otanomomo embankment is holding, and the settlement is quite free of water. HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHLAND RIVERS RUNNING HIGH. RAILWAY COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED. (P*b United Pres? Association.) INVERCARGILL. January 14. Heavy rain has fallen throughout Southland and the rivers are running high. Railway communication was interrupted on the Kingslon-Lumsdon line on Saturday afternoon, and passengers were transferred by downfall will greatly benefit the country, which is suffering from the dry spell. EASTERN AND WESTERN DISTRICTS. RISE IN MATAURA RIVER. RAILWAY SERVICE INTERRUPTED. (From Otjr Own Cnm»ysrf)NDVNT.) GORE, January 14. Southland has been thoroughly drenched through the recent rains, and the outlook for the fanners has improved as a result. Throughout the Eastern and Western districts tho fall was very heavy on Saturdav and Sunday, and tho deluge in the higher country ‘ raised the rivers. The Mataura River has been flowing at a low level for some time, but it has since reached n height of about sft above normal. The Tvim-ston-Gore railway service was interrupted on Paturday owing to fiord waters between Tarawa and Athol, hut a relief tram was rim to suit the convenience of passengers. Tho floods have been mainlv caused through surface water, and there is no danger. DUNEDIN TUEATFER. ■FVirlv henvv rain commenced to fall short.lv before 11 a.m. yesterday, but ceased bo fore 1 o’clock. I ocal streams showed uo UkcUlvod of flooding. Phortlv before 5 o’clock a sharp thunderstorm broke _ over th e town, accompanied bv heavy rain, which lasted for about a Later in the evening a strong south-west wind snrang up hut altho”gb rain appeared to be imminent the conditions overhead remained favourable.

DRY SPELL IN WAIHEMO COUNTY. (Fbou Ouh Own Correspondent.'• PALMERSTON, January 14. The weather continues dry, though threatening, with an occasional light shower. Everywhere there is a shortage of water. Almost daily for the past week it has Mown a gale, and the country is fast drying up. REPORTS FROM THE NORTH. GALE IN CHRISTCHURCH. BRICK WALL BLOWN DOWN. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. January 14. Yesterday’s gale completed the work of (he recent fire at Avons de Schoolroom Iho high peak end of the brick wall left when the fire destroyed the remainder of the building was blown over by the wind, which destroyed part of the premises that might have been used again. Had the walb< been demolished it could have been made to fall the other way, where the bricks would have fallen among the fire debris. Nobody was injured The vicar became apprehensive when the wind rose in tb® morning in view of the fact that the Sumday school scholars would be assembling in the afternoon. He was early on the scene to take precautions. The wail crashed down shortly after his arrival. 1 ™ RAIN IN WESTLAND. , TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED. fpss United Pbess Association.) HOKITIKA, January 14. The heavy rains of the past two day* have interrupted traffic in the south temporarily. No serious damage is reported. HEAVY FALL IN HAWKE’S BAY. THE DROUGHT BROKEN. (Peb United Porks Association.) NAPIER, January 14. A fall ‘of 72 points of rain in Napier yesterday brought relief from the_ drought and reduced the temperature considerably. A heavy thunderstorm was experienced yesterday, lasting 10 minutes, during which time 24 points of rain fell. Inland the fall was much heavier, and the drought is considered to be ended.