THE TAIERI PLAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 4

THE TAIERI PLAIN

EXTENSIVE INUNDATION * Heavy rain commenced to fall about midnight on Friday, and by daylight on Saturday flood conditions were experienced. The downpour continued throughout Saturday and all the watercourses were soon bank high. The Silverstream overflowed in several places, and roads soon became impassable. , Near the Gordon road bridge at the Mosgiel Borough boundary sand-bag-ging was resorted to in an effort to keep the flooded stream within bounds. Houses near the Dye Creek, Mosgiel, and on many farms in the district, were surrounded, and several streets in Mosgiel were flooded. The surrounding country presented a sorry spectacle, the flooded creeks having spread over the paddocks and surface water lying to a considerable depth. Some farms were completely under water, and a good deal of scouring took place, both on the roads and in the paddocks. Some roads were covered to a depth of two feet. Early yesterday morning the rain ceased and by mid-day the flood waters had subsided somewhat. In the East Taieri district, however, from the Main South road and railway line to the opposite side of the plain, a sea of flood waters could be seen from the higher levels. Some of the fences were completely submerged. Trees and telegraph poles stood above flooded areas, and a number of farm houses were completely isolated. This state of affairs existed down the plain as far as the Otokia district. The frequent flooding of the Riverside and East Taieri districts is becoming a serious matter, both for the producers and consumers of farm produce. The loss to the farmers must be considerable, and there will be a consequent reduction in the quantity of produce reaching the market.