CENTRAL OTAGO FLOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26285, 17 October 1946, Page 6

CENTRAL OTAGO FLOODS

Sudden Thaw with Rain BALCLUTHA DISTRICT THREATENED As the result of a sudden thaw of the late snow on the ranges in Central Otago, caused by warm northerly winds this week, and heavy rain in the Lakes district, sharp rises have occurred in the levels of the Kawarau and Clutha Rivers, which constitute a threat of flooding of the Molyneux at Balclutha. Fortunately the tributaries below Roxburgh are normal, but it was expected at a late hour last night that the Molyneux would have reached its peak level early this morning. Late last night the river at Balclutha flowed about sft below the danger level of the flooding in February of last year, and it was hoped that the threat would be averted by the cessation of the rain in the back country catchment areas. Low-lying orchards and farms were inundated in the Earnscleugh settlement by flood waters from the Fraser River, which reached®its highest level fou many years to overflow its banks and cause flooding over a wide area. It was expected last night that some damage would be caused to plantings of small seeds and to pasture lands, on which the water was lying in sheets. Creeks rose swiftly in the area, and?were in full flood yesterday.