RAIN AND FLOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 31

RAIN AND FLOOD.

TRAFFIC INCON YEMENCED

TROUBLE ON THE TAIERI

CONDITIONS STILL THREATENING

(Otago Daily Times, August 15.) The heavy rain that caused so much discomfort. and even loss, in Dunedin on the 13th, slackened off to a drenching drizzle on Thursday, A few slips have occurred about town, tho most serious being on the Glen road, near the quarry, where a clay bank nas given way, and more earth scorns likely to follow; and at Sydney street, Caversham, where part of a garden was earned away on a slip half a chain long. Slips are also reported on tho Portobcllo road.

THE LEITH. Tho Leith had gone down considerably on Thursday morning, but the course of t.re flood waters of tho previous night was plainly marked out by the deposit of slimy silt on footpaths and over gardens in the neighbourhood of Harbour terrace. The mother and her 10 children, the eldest of whom is 15, who were flooded out on Wednesday night, were shifted to another of tho four-roomed cottages in V\ mow terrace, and were supplied by tho Harbour Board with food, firewood, and clothes. THE POSITION AT OUTRAM. At 5 p m. on Thursday there was some 4ft of water running over the approach to the traffic bridge at Outrara. but the flood was 18 inches lower than it had been at mid-day. The waters over the railway lino, on the other hand, rose considerably during the afternoon, so much so that while the moining train got through in spite of 10 inches of° water, tho afternoon traffic on the Outram branch had to be completely cancelled. SILVERSTREAM BREAKS OUT. Tho Silverstream burst its bank on the west side, where it has not broken out for 20 years past, and all the farmers in the vicinity have hud to shift iheir stock. Iho properties of Messrs Gamble and Gumming were very badly flooded, and tho waters came into Mr Stewart’s house, and also into a number of houses about Mosgiel. Messrs (Jullcn and Nirnmo had great difficulty in getting their stock to a place of safety, and Mr K.irk s catt.c swain over the tops of fences on their road home. Two apartments at the Mosgiel Woollen, Mills were invaded by a foot of water, and there was twice that depth in Messrs Irvine and Stevenson’s condensing factory alongside the Silverstream, on Gordon road. Both the Owhiro and the Silverstream rose very suddenly on Wednesday night, and are still very high. The Silverstream subsided somewhat after the bank gave way. POSITION IN THE COUNTRY. OAMARU, August 14. The rain on Wednesday night reached the back parts of the district, where it was badly needed. It will do a great deal oi good. (From Our Own Correspondents.) TOTARA ESTATE, August 14. The rainfall registered here for tho 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 13th was 5 points, and on the 14th points. HILLGROVE, August 14.^ The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 196 points. The cyclonic disturbance, which has been heralded by heavy seas, fog, and low barometer, culminated in heavy rain yesterday from trite south round to south-east. BUSHEY PARK, August 14. The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 137 points. Up to the present the Shag River is within its banks, but the rain and mist still continue. WAIKOUAITI, August 14. The rainfall registered here for the 36 hours ended 9 a.rn. was 215 points. Nearly all this has fallen in the last 24 hours. The heavy rain which set in on Wednesday afternoon caused a number of creeks in the neighbourhood to overflow their banks, and before midnight tho Main road was under water in several places south of the dairy factory. Tho upper portion of the Domain, on which the new racecourse has been formed, was almost completely covered with water, but, as the outlet from tho channel to the sea was running clear, jio damage was done. The Waikouaiti River rose rapidly, and at high tide was running bank high, and a good area of Cherry Farm was under water, hut with tho ebbing tide the water quickly subsided. Beyond tho fact that roads and low-lying land are in a sloppy condition, little injury has been done, but the rain will delay spring sowing, particularly on farms where the drainage is not good. A light drizzle has been falling to-day, but the weather now shows signs of clearing. HAWKDUN STATION, August 14. Rain commenced at 1 p.m. yesterday, and has continued over since. Up till 9 a.m. today 103 points had fallen.

KOKONGA, August 14. The rainfal! registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 105 points. Foggy "weather set in yesterday morning, steady rain falling throughout the day, and heavy showers last night. To-day it" is still raining. All the streams are running bank high, and the river is rising steadily. ALEXANDRA, August 14. Only 2 points of rain fell last week, but there was a heavy fall yesterday afternoon. A very heavy coating of enow appears cn the Old Man Range to-day. The weather is now clear again. LAW RENCE. August 14. Tiio heavy rain yesterday, which continued till an early hour this morning, resulted in a wash-out on the railway line between Waitahuna and Johnston. This delayed the mornmg train front Lawrence till after 10 o’clock. At Round Hill a heavy slip occurred, which further delayed the train till 2 p.m. The train which was duo at Lawrence at 12 o’clock did not arrive till about 6 p.m There was also an interruption of traffic between Lawrence and Roxburgh. KATTAXOATA, August 14. Rain started to fall hero yesterday morning, and Las continued unceasingly over since. This morning the church bells rang as an indication that water was encroaching into houses, ole. It was then found that in the vicinity of Wilson’s Hail and at the foot of Mount Zion there was a considerable quantity of water, and water had found its way into Mr Wilson’s hoarding-house and other houses in the vicinity. In the vicinity of the lake there is also a largequantity of water. a.nd it i? with difficulty that people can get about, more particu-

larly by Mr J. Pilgrim’s. Water has never been known to lie in such large quantities before. The Olutha River is in high flood, and the lake is also very high. BALCLUTHA, August 14. _ One of the most severe easterly ram storms experienced in Balclutha for a long time occurred on Wednesday. A light ram fell steadily all day, and in the evening, with the breeze increasing to a. gale, there was a torrential downpour. All the creeks between Gore and Balclutha were running bank high, and in places they had overreached their natural confines by ihursday morning. Barncgo Hat I s . o ™- 0 U lOlO inundated, and the Molyncux is Bft above normal at the town bridge, hut as there has not been heavy rain up country a fuitner r : so to any considerable extent is not feared. Railway traffic was slightly deranged tins morning, the express from Dunedin being about half an hour late, and goods trains were held up north of Balclutha. po ai there have not been any cases of loss ot stock reported. . , ~ TAPANUL August 14. The rainfall registered hero for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 183 points. DIPTON. August 14. llio ramfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9.30 a.m. was 20 points. ie fall to-day was 104 points. RAILWAY TRAFFIC DISLOCATED. (Otago Daily Times, August 16.) Many rumours were current on the Taion on Friday concerning the loss of valuable stock on this or that farm, but close investigation failed to prove any actual loss beyond that of a few isolated sheep. Valuable horses, sheep, and cattle were, however, in more instances than one rescued only with great difficulty by ttie aid ol boats. On two points the oldest and most experienced residents on the Taieri arc quite agreed—that never in its history' has there been such a prolonged, unbroken downpour of rain, and never has there bee a seen suc'ti quantities of surface water lying on every part of the plain. The present flood presents peculiar features which old settlers find it difficult to understand or to explain. Tho waters which flowed across Gordon road, Mosgiel, in half a dozen places, and which swirled a foot deep across tho Middle road, not half a mile below tho township, constituted an entirely new record for those parts, but down at Otokia, though everyone was preparing for the worst, the waters of the river were fully 7ft below the mark they reached in the memorable flood in July, 1903. The position seems to be that while the purely surface water is worse than has ever before been experienced, the flood water coming directly from the rivers has in more than one previous inundation been mucu worse.

In Mosgiel all ordinary business was practically suspended, and the floods were the only possible topic ot conversation. Schools all over the plain have necessarily been closed, as every road, not even excepting the Main South read, has been tendered more or less completely impassable. Watchfulness born of previous experience has made the damage to stock remarkably light but the few lambs that arc already about can scarcely escape injury. The inundation will L-e felt particularly just now by farmers, who are just getting their crops in, and it is stated that some on the west side of tho plain will not now be able to get them in at all. Borne idea of the extent to which the present deluge may affect future prospects is conveyed by the fact that the surface water now on the plain will take about a month to clear away, even under favourable conditions. THE LEITH.

The incessant rain which fell on Thursday night and Friday did not improve conditions at Harbour terrace contiguous to the mouth of the Leith, in fact, the increase in the volume of water in the stream on the pervious day tended to a aggravate the danger to property which existed previously. The water surged down the bed of the stream until it came to the concrete wall constructed by the Otago Harbour Board as part of its reclamation scheme. Here the waters were temporarily checked by the abutment of the wall, but they soon found an outlet on the north side of the river, and commenced to flow over the road. The work done by the Harbour Board’s employees during the day proved effective, and no further damage was done. THE CITY AND SUBURBS. While there has been no damage of any note reported from St. Kiida ' or South Dunedin, a considerable quantity of water is lying about. Particularly is this the case to far as that portion of the Flat known us Park Ward is concerned. THE TAIERI. A reassuring feature has been the fact that so far tile Tairei River has not risen sufficiently high to cause any grave fears as to its bursting the embankment. In fact, in some of the lower portions of the plain the surface water is at an even higher level than the river itself. At Allanton on Friday there was a clearance of several feet between Itro lower beams of the bridge and the river level, and tiro impression was entertained by some of the Allanton settlers that the river must have burst its bounds down at Henley, thus allowing the hi" volume of water to escape more readily than has been the case in previous floods. There has been no report of such an occurrence from Henley, however, and the comparatively safe level of the river must be attributed mainly to two important factors. In the first place there have been no heavy falls of enow in the back country, and, secondly, normal tides have been experienced during the last few days. In previous tune's of heavy lloo'd the molting of the snow in the back country and the backing up of the flood waters by high tides have proved a potent and frequent source of danger. There were three or four foot of water over the Outram railway line. Short'y after midnight a message from Outram conveyed the welcome news that the river had fallen four inches during the preceding two hours. MOMONA. At Mom on a so farascould bo ascertained no houses had been actually entered by the waters, though many had boon completely surrounded. Several families were reported to have left for safer and drier quarters, and all the residents were moving their stock out of danger. The rain was very heavy all day, but fortunately it was not assisted by flood water from the river. Mr Bremncr had to leave his homestead, taking all his stock with him. It was recognised in the afternoon that the river would have to rise considerably before tho

flood waters broke loose.' but especially in view of reports from Central Otago residents were not a little anxious as to how matters might develop through the night.

THE SILVERSTREAM AND THE OWHIRO.

The Silvcrstream burst its banks on the west side at Murdoch’s and Smith’s on Wednesday night, and banked up by the swollen waters of the Taieri River, rapidly overflowed on to the surrounding farms. The water found its way into a good many of the settlers’ houses, while the properties of Messrs Stewart, Cunningham, and Gamble were badly flooded. The backed up waters covered a very large area, extending right down to its junction with the Taieri. but the height of the water higher up was soma two feet loss than on the occasion of the big flood in July, 1908, but a little higher than the flood in November last.

The Owhiro was also carrying a big volume of'water, and at practically every crossing fr*m Ilosgiel onwards, had flowed on to the roadway, sometimes to a depth of two or three feet, while the low-lying land, in its immediate vicinity, was in many cases submerged. Lower down it became merged as far as could bo seen in the general waste of surface water. OUTLYING DISTRICTS.

All the outlying districts, such as Berwick, Otokia, and Henley, have, of course, suffered severely and arc all mostly under water. At Berwick all the roads are impassable. The Waipori River is running high, and Post Office Creek is a’so carrying a big volume of water. At Otokia the roads are in nu.n v places three or four feet under water, and big areas of country are submerged fence-high—all the result of rain water. The river is keeping within its banks, and is not likely to cause trouble.

The roads to the station are impassable except on horseback, and the railway line all along is but a foot or two above the level of the water.

In common with the ether parts of the lower plain Henley presents a dreary spectacle, practically the whole of the locality being covered with water. All the settlers hero are removing their stock to high ground in case of contingencies. REMOVAL OF STOCK.

Fortunate there has been no loss of stock so far. Reports were circulated as to losses which various farmers had sustained, but on inquiry these proved to be groundless. There were, however, a good many close shaves, and had it not been for the promptitude and energy displayed by the settlers in safeguarding the interests of themselves and their neighbours it that the flood waters would have exacted a heavy toll.

It! was stated on Thursday evening that Mr William Kirkland (Elm Grove) had lost all his valuable breeding owes, but inquiry showed that this was not the ease, all i.'ho sheep having boon safely removed to higher ground in boats. On the roads between Mosgiel and Elm Grove there was about 7ft of water on Friday, and all the surrounding land was inundated. The house itself, however, was quite safe. Mr James King, of Riverside, whoso farm is situated across the Slverstream from Kirkland's, was in a bad plight on Friday morning. The house was isolated, and the waters were threatening to rise at any moment, while on the ground surrounding the house—less than half an acre in extent—there wore over 100 sheep, 50 head of cattle, and 50 pigs. At noon preparat ons were being made to send a boat to the farm with food, and, if necessary, lo carry the family to a safer position. Late last night wo were informed from Outmm that Mr King had been asking for the services of a - boat to rescue 150 sheep which he had removed to the temporary shelter of one of the farm buildings. Mr John Nimmo, of Keith Hall, narrowly missed losing seven fine draught horses, which were cut off from the high ground. On Thursday morning they wore seen from the railway lino bunched together on a slight elevation, and apparently safe enough, but by Friday morning the water was up to their necks. A boat was at once procured, and Mr John Sutherland, accompanied by two men, put off and swam the horses across to high land. All over the plain there have been cases of the loss of one or two sheep in each instance, while word was received from Berwick on 1* riday that Mrs CTossan had lest 11 sheen. train services dislocated. About 4.30 p.m. a very largo landslide occurred on the railway line between Ravensbourno and Burkes. In the first place a largo portion of the bank above the .main road fell half-way across the road A few nrnutes later the bank between the road and the railway line gave way, and slid down bodily, covering the lino for fully a chain to a depth of 4ft to Bfr. Fortunately the express from the north got through before the slip occurred, and the train arriving from Port Chalmers at 4.20 p.m. also got through without mishap, but all the succeeding trains were held up. In the case of the inward-bound express, duo at 9.15 p.m., the task of transferring the passengers, mails, and baggage was no light one, but in order to facilitate matters and reduce the discomfort to a minimum the railway authorities engaged a large number of drags, the latter being held in waiting at Burkes, where the express pulled up about 9.50 p.m. The passengers and mails were transferred to the drags as speedily as possible and conveyed to Ravcnsbourno by road, and again transferred to a train that was waiting at the latter station and brought into town, where they arrived shortly after 10 p.pi. Meanwhile the express had to return to Port Chalmers for the night. Another huge landslide occurred on the Main road between Ravensbourno and Black Jack’s Point, completely blocking the road fur several hours. Eventually a portion of the debris was removed, leaving just enough room for vehicles to pass the obstruction.

A good deal of minor damage was done to footpaths, and streets in the West Harbour, owing to the gratings getting blocked with debris.

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY BLOCKED

The heavy slip on the north lino was not tho only serious difficulty that had to be faced by the local railway officials yesterday. Tho usual timetables were maintained on the main south line, and though at one time it was under lOin of water at

Clarksville, this eventually subsided and left the rails clear.

The Lawrence branch was working satisfactorily, but there was no traffic possible on the Outram branch.

Traffic on the Otago Central line was altogether deranged by numerous slips in the Taieri Gorge. The train leaving Dunedin at 7.45 a.m. was so seriously delayed that it did not get through the gorge till 5 p.m., but it went right on to Clyde, whore it would arrive about midnight. The 11.40 a.m. from Dunedin, with 20 passengers on board, was even less fortunate, for it met with insurmountable obstacles just beyond Hindon. When the attempt was made to return to Dunedin it was found that that path, too, was blocked by fresh falls, and there was nothing for it but to spend the night at Hindon.^ The morning passenger train from Clyde, with 49 passengers on board, could only get as far as Pukerangi, and was forced to return to Middlomarch. The goods trains on the lino were, of course, hold up also.

FLOODS AT MILTON. (From Oub Own Corbkspondkkt .l MILTON, August 15. Milton has hitherto enjoyed an enviable reputation for its immunity from floods of any serious description, and when in times past neighbouring towns Lave been reported as suffering from flood damages, Uio residents in this borough have congratulated themselves, on their fortunate position. Their complacency was, however, seriously shaken by the experiences which befell in the early iiours of Thursday morning. Lno epell of excellent weather experienced lately broke on Wednesday morning, when light rain commenced. It increased steadily throughout the day, and in the evening hours came down in torrents. The channels quickly overflowed, and creeks discharging into the Tokomairiro River were running bank high, and caused a sudden rise in the main stream, into which the borough drainage is discharged. Although there were largo pools of surface water lying on various sections throughout the town no serious danger was for a moment considered probable, and householders retired to rest supremely oblivious to the possibility of danger. About 11 p.m., however, n largo body of water draining from tho northern end, unable to find any other outlet, coursed across the Main street, in some parts about knee deep; swept on its career through Intervening sections towards the southwestern corner of the borough, in the vicinity of the Bruce Woollen Mills. Here its course was blocked by the high flood in the Tokomairiro River, and the water flowed on to several residences between the Woollen Mills and the main street, and an unbroken sheet of water quickly extended over a considerable area. The fire alarm was sounded, and a band of willing workers, on horseback and in vehicles, joined in the work of rescuing residents from houses which had been inundated. Rescues, in some cases through bedroom windows, were effected with considerable difficulty, not unattended with danger. In one or two instances the families • were aroused from their slumbers, unaware of the fact that the waters stood about 18 inches deep in their homes and their surprise can he easily imagined.

The eight at midnight was a particularly dreary one, with the rain still descending heavily. Towards morning the rain abated somewhat, and the flood waters had receded to a slight extent.

On Thursday work was suspended in the hosiery department at the Bruce Woollen Mills owing to this department being slightly flooded: whilst at M'GiH’s flour mill work also ceased, because the waters had dammed back into the fire boxes of the boilers

A drizzling rain continued throughout Thursday and during that night. The unusual occurrence—never hitherto happened in Milton—is attributed to interference witli natural watercourses in the extension and development of the borough. The rain gauge at the local High School registered 2.22 for the 24 hours. The flood waters had receded somewhat up till Friday morning, when steady rain again commenced, and" continued throughout the day, with the result that there was a repetition of the previous flooding, though in a minor degree. > At the time of writing (4.50 p.m.) the rain still continues, and shows no prospect of abating, with the flood waters steadily rising. Reports from the surrounding districts show that several culverts have been washed away throughout Bruce County. A portion of the Glenoro traffic bridge was washed away, and damage has been done to the Dominion Lime Company’s tramway at Milton, estimated at £2OO. POSITION IN LAWRENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LAWRENCE, August 15. It is still raining hero, though lightly. All the creeks are high, and it is many years since so much water has been seen flowing down Wotherstone Creek. The value of the railway embankment as a protection from flood is very apparent, as the level of the water in the crock must bo se\cral feet above the level of Ross place. Craig and Co.’s coach was unable to get through to-day, owing to the height of the Beaumont Crock. A motor car and a trap were sent out and brought in the mails and passengers. FLOODS AT K A IT A N GAT A. (From Our Own Correspondent.) KAITANGATA, August 15. Rain is still falling heavily, and shows no sign of abating. Between Stirling and Kaitangata there is nothing but one sheet of water, and all stock has had to bo removed. In the northern part of the town some of the houses in the low levels are flooded, and residents of long standing state that they have never known such a state of affairs before. Lake Tuakitoto is very high at present, and this accounts for the flooding of the lower levels. THE CLUTHA DISTRICT. CFrom Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, August 15. Rain fell steadily all last night and this morning, and still shows no sign of abating. All the streams in the district aro flooded, but the Molyneux has recoded to sft above normal, there being little rain up-country. The road at Otanomomo was impassable with water from the Waitapeka Stream, and yesterday Lackman’a store, at Roma-

hapa, was nearly surrounded, while T»hora, near Owaka, was one huge lake. The Lovell’s Flat lake is very high, extending now from Lovell’s Flat to Kaitangata and Stirling, and there is danger of trains being held up near Benhar. There has been a washout on the Taratu private line, about a chain having gone. The culvert on the road at the Black-i burn creamery has been washed away, also a footbridge near the Pukepito School, on Wash Creek, and there was also a slight washout on the riverbank road near Lory’s. At Kaihiku all the flat ootintrv was under water, and at Waiwera the water was 3in deep in Mr Garden’s store and house.

Thero was a largo amount of surface water on Incholutha, but as it steadily found its way into the rivers no harm was done beyond thoroughly soaking the land and delaying work. To-day water was running over the roads in many places in the Gatlins district, but these were all passable, and (ho rivers began to recede in the afternoon. The Tautuku was higher than it had been for nine years.

The rainfall in Balclutha from 9 a.m. oa Wednesday to 9 a.m. to-day was 2.05 in, and at Owaka it was 1.82 in.

NEWS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS. c TIMARU, August 15. Steady and heavy ram sot in at midday, and threatens to continue throughout the night.

(From Ocr Own Correspondents.) GERALDINE, August 15. Iho rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on August 14 was 35 points. A south east rain fell after five days of fog and drizzle.

BENMORE, August 14. The rainfall registered hero for (ho 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 13th was 67 points.

DUNTROON, August 14. i| The rainfall registered hero for the 24 : hours ended 9 a.m. was 103 points. The ram was very welcome after tho dry . winter. We are a long way below the average for the eight months of the year. ' . HILLGROVE, August 15. a llio rainfall registered here for the 24 | hours ended 9 a.m. was 29 points. After a brief fine spell yesterday rain has again sot m from the south-west. Tho barometer is rising slowly.

WAIKOUAITI, August 15. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 31 points. Tho river was subsiding rapidly: but at 9.30 a.m. rain was falling heavily.

CROMWELL,' August 15. 3 There was an exceptionally heavy rain throughout the whole district on Wednesday, and it has rained heavily nearly all to-day. Snow lias fallen on the high country, consequently it has not caused tho rivers to rise much. Tho country hero has not had such a soaking for very many years, and with favourable spring weather there should bo splendid feed and crops. ALEXANDRA, August 15. very heavy rain fell last night and this morning. Ino weather is clear now, but bitterly cold. Either heavy rain or snow is still falling on tho mountains. Thero ; were heavy floods from Shingle Creek to Coal Creek yesterday. The train lias been , delayed, and is not expected till 7 o’clock, to-night. -

. TAPANUI, August 15. Iho rainfall registered during tho- 24 hours ending 9 a.m. was 76 points.

LANDSLIPS AND WASH-OUTS,

FLOOD WATERS SUBSIDING

(Otago Daily Times, August 18.) A considerable number of more or iesa serious slips have resulted in and about Dunedin from the recent rains and the inconvenience of many of these will taka time to remove, but all further danger of this -kind practically ended with the -cessation of rain on Friday e - - ening. About 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon three small boys, with a youthful disregard for danger, were playing on the banks of tiro Leith, at the back of the University, when one of them named Percy Davis, aged about nine years, overbalanced himself and foil into the water Ho was quickly carried out into the middle of the turgid and rapid-flowing stream, and it seemed as if there was very little hope for the lad. The cries of his companions, who ran screaming along the bank, however, attracted the attention of two young men. and rushing down to the Union street bridge, they saw the little fellow being whirled round in the eddies at that dangerous corner, and apparently fighting bravely for his life. They ran down to the water’s edge, and one of the young men, named X. H. Dempster, plunged boldly into tho swirling waters, which reached almost to Ins waist, and brought tho lad to dry land. He was not much roo soon, for Davis had already been carried down about 100 yards b 7 the stream, and was much exhausted. Had the accident befallen tho lad on th« previous day it is useless to speculate us to what his fate would have been, and even as matters stood he certainly owed his life to the prompt and decisive action of Mr Dempster. THE TAIERI. On Saturday afternoon the. position on the Taic.ri had not altered materially except in prospect. There was still a great deal of water between Henley and Otokia. and at Allanton tho river was actually higher than it had been the previous day. Tho surface water that had caused such inconvenience about the streets of Mosgiol had almost disappeared. During tho afternoon the water fell about 4ft at Outram, leaving only a foot of water covering the approach to the bridge. No additional loss of stock

lower levels on the Taieri will take some considerable time to disappear. RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BLOCKED.

Owing to land slides and wash-outs railway traffic suffered a severe dislocation on Saturday, and the time-table of trains was very much interfered with. Ihe local staff has been put to a great deal of inconvenience, but temporary arrangements for the conveyance of the travelling public wore put in hand with commendable despatch, and the difficulties circumvented as far as possible. On Friday' night the lino near Otokia was submerged under some 4ft of water, and as a consequence the morning train from Clinton and the express from Invercargill to Christchurch were held un at Henley on Saturday. Relief trains wore, however, despatched to Alianton, and the passengers were transferred to these by means of drags, arriving in Dunedin about 3 o’clock. The 8.25 a.m. express to Invercargill and the 9.5 a.m. train to Clinton were both cancelled, as was also the goods service between Dunedin and Balclutha. By about 6.50 p.m. the water bad subsided sufficiently to permit of passenger trains passing over the submerged area at Otokia at a reduced speed. The slip at Burkes necessitated the transfer ot passengers between that station and Ravensbourne by a coach service, while further complications were caused on the north lino by a slip at Pukctcraki. The passengers which left Dunedin by the first and second express trains for the north on Saturday had by no means an enviable time. In both instances they had to bo conveyed from Ravensbourne in drags to Burkes, consequent on the big slip between these stations blocking the passage of the trains. Another slip at Puketoraki caused further delay and inconvenience. On the Otago Central line there were various slips between Wingatui and Middlemarch, and it was found necessary to suspend the whole of the time-table. The Lawrence line is entirely free from water, and traffic was resumed there on Saturday morning.

'There were no trains at all to Outran) on Saturday.

(From Our Own Correspondents.)

BUiSHEY PARK, August 16. The rainfall registered hero for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 15th was 33 points, and on the 16th 125 points, making exactly Sin in four days. There lias been no serious flooding, and the water is now subsiding. WAIKOUAITI, August 16.

The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 152 points. Rain was falling again at 9,15 a.m., but the weather appeared to bo clearing. TAPANUI, August 16. The rainfall registered during the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. was 75 points. This makes tlie total fall over the three successive days 3.45 in. As might bo expected, much erosion on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains and over cultivated hillsides has eventuated, and a fair amount of damage to the State nursery in consequence is reported.

EFFECTS OF THE FLOODS. (Otago Daily Times, August 19.)

After the heavy rains at the end of last week a welcome change set in on Saturday. Though the sunshine was somewhat fleeting on that day, yet a gradual improvement was going on. This continued throughout the night, and both Sunday and Monday were fine, though in the afternoons the wind was somewhat cold. Traffic has now been resumed' on the Outram railway line, and the railway department reports that all slips on the lines have been cleared. All trains ran up to time yesterday. POSITION AT WAIPORI. SERIOUS LANDSLIPS. (Fitou Ock Special Reporter ) WAIPORI, August 18. Work is being pushed on at Waipori in clearing away the fall of earth and stone behind the power house. The debris covered pipe lines Nos. 1 and 2 just where they enter the house, but the pipe has not sustained the slightest damage. The ironwork required for repairing one of the two 22in pipes loading off No. 1 pipe line has arrived, and the reinforcement works will probably bo completed on Wednesday. The other 22in pipe is not affected, and is in full work, as is also the two 22in pipes tapping No. 2 pipe line. No. 3 pipe lino, as stated previously, will be out of commission for some little time owing to the embankment on which it was laid being swept dean away for 20ft or 30ft. It will bo necessary to put in a few’ supports under the pipe, and this work is now being gone on with. Mr Stark, electrical engineer, made a visit of inspection to-day to the upper end of the road now being made from to Waipori following the course of the Waipori River. The two miles of formation completed at this end have suffered pretty severely as a result of the rain, two large slips and several smaller ones having taken place from the hillside and fallen across the road. A counle of heavy logs swept down a gu’ly by the flood waters blocked up a largo culvert and checked the stream, which then cut its way clean through the road at the f*tde of the culvert. A huge birch tree lias fallen right across the track in one place, and in another sliji two tall birch trees are still standing erect in the middle of a mass of earth lying on and across the pathway. The greater number of the slips have occurred in the first half-mile of the formation from this end. Fifteen men are now at work clearing away the slips, but it will be about a month before the part which is not completed is fully repaired and restored to its original condition. Information received at the power house from Waipori township states that very little rain fell there last week, which points to the fact that the floods at Berwick must have been almost entirely caused by the rainfall about the power station and its immediate vicinity, causing a flood in the Waipori River and the Mill Creek. Mr B. Davis, in charge of th c work at the weir showed ouii representative indications of a great flow of water in the locality of the weir. The men’s camp is at the river side at the foot of a hill-face about 150 feet high, and the water has evidently come down the hill like a torrent. Mr Davis remarked that he thought they were all going to be washed away. Thc work on the weir, however, is still being pushed forward steadily.

{From Otr Own Correspondents.) GERALDINE, August 16. The rainfall registered here for 24 hours

ended 9 a.m. on the 16th, was .785 in. South-west rain and wind all afternoon and evening of the 15th, after a dull, foggy, showery week. TOTARA ESTATE, August 16.

The rainfall registered bore for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 15th was 4 points, and on the 16th 125 points, making a total of 266 points during the last four days. HILLGROVE, August 16. The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 160 points. OTUREHUA, August 16.

The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. on the 15th was 12 points; and on the 16th 37 points. This morning there is a slight coating of snow down to a low level.

GALLOWAY. August 16.

The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on Friday was 10 points, and on Thursday 51 points. Steady ram has again set in with no indication of the weather breaking. LAUDER. August 14. The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. to-day was 107 points. Thick fog and drizzling rain all to-day, and no sign of clearing. KYEBURN, August 15.

Light rain commenced to fall here on Wednesday morning and became gradually heavier towards evening. It has continued pretty steadily since, and at time of writing (7 a.m.) shows no indications of clearing. The river is in flood.

BLAGKSTONE, August 17.

The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 14th was 106 points, and 9 a.m. oil the 15th 32 points, and the 16th 17 points. There was a slight fall of snow on the'high levels. RANFURLY, August 15.

The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 13th was 65 points. Twenty points were recorded on the 14th, and at present rain is still falling.” KOKONGA, August 15.

The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on the 15th was 75 points. A stcadv drizzling rain still continues, with heavy showers at intervals. The river fell yesterday, but rose again considerably through the night. DIPTON, August 16.

The rainfall registered here for 24 hours ended 9 50 a.m. on the 15th was 31 points.