BLOCKING OF SOUTHERN OUTLET OF THE MOLYNEUX RIVER FLOODS FARM LANDS AND CAUSES THREAT OF MORE SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23894, 23 August 1939, Page 4

BLOCKING OF SOUTHERN OUTLET OF THE MOLYNEUX RIVER FLOODS FARM LANDS AND CAUSES THREAT OF MORE SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS

The blocking of the southern outlet of the Molyneux River by a huge sandbank has resulted in the flooding of about 1400 acres of farm land and is a threat of a Molyneuxfloodtonval the lustonc i£« SSTr The Paretai district has been deprived of its drainage and serious damage Is already being done to stock, crops and pastures. Unless something is done immediately to make a new ™«et foMhe river settlers consider the danger of an overwhelming flood a very real one. These pictures, taken yesterday, show: Top left-All of the Molyneux that is at present reaching the sea through an outlet a chain P. Keller (Public Works engineer for Otago and Southland), left. Mr A. J. McD. Millar (engineer to the Lower Clutha River Trust), right, and Mr W E Shaw (Otago Commissioner of Crown Lands), middle background, who spent yesterday afternoon investigating the cause of the flood Lower le£t-A typical sqene in the flooded area. Lower right—A dairy herd doing the best it can with a sodden crop of turnips. Inset—One of the three pumps which are being brought into operation in an effort to clear pasture land.