FLOODS IN ENGLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20901, 16 December 1929, Page 11

FLOODS IN ENGLAND

THE WEST BADLY AFFECTED. GREAT AREAS UNDER WATER. (British Official Wireless.) (United Frees Association.) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) RUGBY, December 13. This morning the flood water at Windsor, which has reached sft Oin, remained stationary for the first time since the water began to rise. At Maidenhead, where the floods have been the worst for 20 years, the river has fallen slightly, and the upper waters of the Thames show the same tendency. No improvement is yet apparent in the lower reaches, and some anxiety must continue until after next week’s spring tides. In the West of England great areas are under water in the neighbourhood of the Severn and in Somerset, where the floods are the worst experienced for half a century. Yesterday there was a further gale, with gusts at the rate of 80 miles an hour at Liverpool and 70 miles an hour in the English Channel. There were sharp local thunderstorms in London and elsewhere. _ The Eton College authorities have decided to close the term next Tuesday, instead of on. Thursday, owing to the floods, which affect the college grounds on three sides. An official watch is to be kept on the Thames in London this week-end. A very thorough survey of all the embank ments and walls lias been made, and all the necessary repairs in the way of refilling cracks and strengthening the weak points have been made as a precautionary measure against the spring tides next week. THE THAMES VALLEY. AN IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED. RUGBY, December 13. (Received Dec. 15, at 5.5 p.m.) It is believed that the floods in the Thames Valley have now reached their worst. No further heavy rain is expected in the immediate future, and it is expected that the position will begin to improve to-morrow. This is the view taken by the Thames Conservancy after a study of the levels and the flow to-day. In the upper reaches of the river, down to Maidenhead, there has been a fall of from one to five inches. Between Maidenhead and Tcddington there has been a rise of from one to five inches, but this is the normal result of the casing of the situation higher up, and it is believed that little, if any, further rise will occur. The Thames at Windsor is still five feet six inches above the highest point leached for over 20 years, but hopes are entertained of an ebb later to-day.