SOUTHERLY STORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 8

SOUTHERLY STORM

INVERCARGILL BUFFETED FURTHER DAMAGE REPORTED FLOODING AGAIN OCCURS .■ (Special . 550 Daily Times) ■ >;, / : INVERCARGILL, Jan. 10. There was no abatement to-day of the stormy conditions’ which began in Southland on Monday morning. The gale continued throughout the day and heavy showers of driving rain with a sharp drop in temperature made conditions .even less pleasant than on the previous day. Some further damage was caused in the city, adding to the extensive task facing the' city authorities in clearing away the ruins in the public gardens and reserves. There was another very high tide early this morning, the wind backing up the water in the Invercargill estuary and causing a repetition of the flooding which occurred on Monday evening. No. 1 and No. 2 gardens to the south of the city area were again flooded, and property adjoining the . Estuary was also inundated.

Waves beating against’the retaining wall between the estuary and the showgrounds caused flooding of the area to the east of the wall, and the force of the water on both sides caused a breach in the wall. A large emergency gang was put to work immediately to repair the damage and the wall was made sound again before the evening high tide. It was the first time that any break has occurred in the estuary embankment.

A thorough inspection of the city reserves was made to-day by the superintendent (Mr B. P. Mansfield), who said that no damage appeared to have been done during the night further than what had occurred on Monday. The effect of the gale on the Gardens had been very severe, and practically all the results of the 3'ears work had been destroyed. At Bluff to-day it was possible to resume the working of the ships at the wharves, although the wind hampered operations, and the Waiana left port at noon and the Maunganui at 5.30 o’clock this evening. The wind and the high tides caused clamage to the railway embankment at the shore end of the western approach to the Bluff wharf. The force of the waves dislodged rocks in three places and opened up gaps of considerable size. At low water to-day gangs of men repaired the damage and made the embankment sound again. .