SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24296, 13 May 1940, Page 3

SOUTH OTAGO

TAHAKOPA Damage to Back Creek Bridge The Back bridge on the McLennan road was closed to traffic from Wednesday to Friday, owing to a wash-out on the approach to the bridge. The roadway for a distance of four to five feet was washed away, but repairs have been made. The creek, which was in high flood for several days, ( caused a bad wash-out and scouring on the roadway on either side of the bridge.' A motorist had a fortunate escape on Wednesday morning when the car he was driving crossed over the undermined road. He walked back to the end of the bridge, and within three minutes the roadway which had been undermined edved in, leaving a gap of a yard. Had the car been a heavy model, it must have broken through the ropdvyay. The back bridge at the township also suffered some damage. Undermining took place, but repairs were made. The substantial tramway bridge used by. Hogg and Co to convey timber across the Tahakopa River was damaged by the flood waters, which reached a high level. One end of the bridge was pushed about a yard out of alignment, but the. bridge field.

Rainfall for April The rainfall for April was smaller than usual, and a total of 3.66 inches was recorded. The heaviest fall occurred on April 25, when .68 inches was measured. Although the total for the month was small, rain fell on 19 days, but the individual recordings were small. Already the rainfall for May has totalled 3.59 inches, the i-eadings being as follows: May 3, .07in; May 4, .62in; May 5, .69in: May 6,1.63 in; May 7, .78in. EASTERN SOUTHLAND National Party Over 100 delegates and" supporters of the National Party attended the annual meeting of Mataura electorate branch, which was held at Gore on Friday evening The business was disposed of in a short time, ancf the evening was devoted to honouring the member for the district, Mr T. L. Macdonald, who had enlisted for military service and will go into camp at Burnham this week. Mr R. S. Green, chairman of the Mataura electorate committee, presided, and associated with him were Mr W. J. Bodkin, M.P, for Central Otago, Mrs Bodkin, and Mr J. A. Roy, M.P. ■ for Clutha. Mr Green moved a resolution, which was carried by acclamation. reaffirming complete confidence in Mr Macdonald as the member for Mataura, pledging that the work of the party would be carried on during his absence, and wishing him God-speed. The chairman then made a presentation of a set of brushes to Mr Macdonald, who responded. Messrs Bodkin and Roy promised to (he best of their ability to look after the interests of the Mataura electors during the absence of Mr Macdonald. The election of officers for the district committee resulted:—Chairman, Mr R. S. Green; vice-chairman, Mr G. Smith; committee—Messrs A. G. Whitefield (Waikaka Valley), I. Mcßean-Stewart (Waitane), S. Rice (Wyndham), C. H. Hargest (Mataura), R. Hutton (Mataura), J. Dunlop (Seaward Downs), J. D. Edgar (Tapanui), G. L. Morris (Gore) and D. Russell (Gore); auditor, Mr H. H. Doughty.