ANOTHER HEAVY DOWNPOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 24

ANOTHER HEAVY DOWNPOUR.

NORTH END OF CITY FLOODED. TAIERI PLAIN AGAIN INUNDATED. An abnormal rainfall resulted in the North End of the City being flooded on Sunday afternoon, several houses being invaded. The Taieri Plain again suffered severely and the reports, particularly from lho Outram district, indicate that a flood oi exceptional severity is being experienced.

(From Monday’s Otago Daily Times.) By a coincidence it was exactly three weeks since the city was treated to a downpour of rain with results unprecedented within tlie recollections of the oldest inhabitants, and then yesterday dawned to the song of a steady fall, and, before many hours had passed it became evident that we were to have another unenviable experience. The rain began at 4 a.m., driven by a powerful wind from south-west. By 9 o’clock .7 inch was registered, and 1.92 had fallen by 3-30. Mho fall to last night totalled 2.02 inches. That, however, was only the fall registered in the city; on the hills, as was testified by the rapid rise of the various streams, the fall was much heavier, or else it had made an earlier start. When a round of the city was made yesterday afternoon the indications were not pointing to as serious developments as those of three weeks ago, but, as the rain was still falling, it was impossible at that time to decide whether or not a certain prophecy relating to a lapse of 100 years was to be borne out. It seemed fairly safe then, at least, to opine that the south end was not to suffer as it did on the last occasion, for, as there was very little water finding its way into Gaversharn, it was to be presumed that the Kaikorai Stream was not to bo again responsible for the damage it did before. What w;.ter there was about the Flat seemed to be getting away fairly freely owing to the energetic clearing of the gutters and gratings.

The picture at the north end was very different, and the conditions ruling there seemed to be every whit as bad in tho neighbourhood of the Gardens and at Harbour terrace as they were before. Of tho rest of the town it can be said that the position was comparatively good. There was not a great deal of water coming off the hill streets, and the freshets that were to be seen in great numbers on the hill faces three weeks ago were not by any means as plentiful. The I-eitii was at its height shortly after 2 o’clock, full tide, but with the turn of the current it subsided considerably, and the water also went, down in the neighbourhood of the Gardens. As the rain stopped finally, it appeared, at 4 p.m., the conditions generally took a, marked turn for tho better. By evening the waters had almost disappeared in the north end, but disquieting news came from the Taieri. The inhabitants of the row of cottages lying between Forth street and Harbour terrace) again had to evacuate early, and at 3 o’clock the water, which had risen no less than 2ft in an hour and a-half, was up to tho window sills. As much of the furniture as possible was removed to safety, but from wfiat could be gathered there was very little left from the ravages of the last flood that did not suffer. Harrow street hail about three inches of water in it at 3 p.m. Portion of Queen street provided a course for the water that had left the Leith, and three houses had the invader surging about them. This water mostly made its way down Duke street.

There was again a quantity of water on the Main South road in proximity to Iho Wilkie road bridge, tho Glen providing most of it, but it was not spread over a wide area, and was not more than six inches at the deepest part.

At the intersection of Duke and George streets there was a good deal of water, and a number of residents were to be seen preparing to evacuate. There was a, rise of only two or three inches necessary in a number of cases to render an evacuation imperative. On the Main South road, in, Caversham proper, there was water deep enough to warrant the barricades that had been erected in front of most of the shops on the lower side, but it was not showing signs of rising further. In some of the low lying streets off the Main road there were stretches of water, but in no case did they compare with the quantities of three weeks ago. St. Andrew street was one of the roads affected, and a number of residents were removed. The Leith did not enter the Dental School, but a portion of the building towards which the waters were eating their way through their own bed. did hot appear to l>e too safe. Indeed, if the river had risen higher, it is possible that the damage done before would have been intensified to a considerable degree. NORTH-EAST VALLEY. The North-East Valley has suffered somewhat, and a few- of the houses in the lower levels have been invaded by the water, but in the most of instances it lias not penetrate)] the bouses. Av the comer of the Opoho end of (he Gardens there was a considerable quantity of flood water across (he road, which had apparently come from Lindsay’s Creek passing through the rear of the flower portion of the Gardens. For some little distance further on, the road presents a not. altogether unusual appearance, but before approaching the residence of the late Mr R. Glendining, a great deal of water lies across the Valley road, and it is here that seme of the residents seem to have suffered most. From the outside appearance water must tune invaded their premises to some extent, particularly on the east side of the road, in some instances to a depth of several inches. So far as the gardens fronting residences there is water in very nearly all of them. Water can be seen standing all through the trees in the late Mr Glendining’s beautiful garden. After passitig this point, matters slightly improved until nearing Lindsay’s bridge, tiie approach to which from a northerly direction was simply through a lake of considerable depth in the more depressed part of the road. It is at, the bridge which spans the creek where the source of the trouble arises. Creek it was no longer. In place of a babbling brook it had become a roaring torrent running very nearly flush with the floor of the bridge, and the rush of the water had got over the planking, and made its way along tho road in both directions. Beyond that, as far as was ascertainable, matters were not very bad. THE FLAT. V hile the heavy rain seriously affected the north end through the Water of Leitn overflowing its banks ill several places, those living out on tile Flat and about Caversham had not nearly the same experience. For the second time the storm water carrier at the end of V ilkie road gave way, and the water spouted in considerable volume about King Edward road and quickly laid a fairly lengthy portion of the street under water, though to no groat depth. There were also a few patches of water lying about the Flat further south, but nothing to cause alarm or even inconvenience. Beyond the channels being full of water and a few of the gardens having an inch or two of water lying about, and cm pie' sections in the borough of St. Kilda being slightly submerged there was not much happened. Out in the direction of Caversham, Carisbrook Ground was about half-covered, but to depth. A good deal of water from the Glen was tunning across the Main South road at the railway bridge, but it was a mere nothing to what was experienced hero about three weeks ago. when the big flood was on. At Caversham there was some little water lying about, but it was inconsiderable. The Oval carried its usual number of lakelets, such as are frequently seen. GREEN ISLAND AND BURNSIDE LITTLE AFFECTED. Green Island and Burnside escaped lightly. The Kaikorai stream was running bank high, but did not overflow in Burnside, and in Green Island tile only break was at llarra way’s flour mills. One family had to vacate its home near here, and the water entered another property near by. There are only a few small slips, but apart from this the damage was practically nothing. The stream fell about 4ft early last evening. A gang of railway employees barricaded with bags of earth the entrance to the tunnel at Burns'de, and this no doubt largely saved the south end of the city from being flooded us it. was before. Early in the afternoon some water did get through the tunnel, but the gang were successful in turning it off STAFF EARLY AT WORK. At 6 a.m. the city engineer (Mr W. D. R. M‘Cardie) was warned that the Leith was rising rapidly, and shortly afterwards the Corporation and Harbour Board staffs were at work along with an auxiliary battalion. Altogether over 150 men in various parts of the town were engaged throughout tho day in clearing the gutters and in keeping the gratings free from accumulated debris. They were also active in the erection of barricades made from sacks of earth at vulnerable points along the banks of the Leith. The promptitude with which this work was undertaken arid carried out was no doubt responsible for the comparative absence of damage. LEITH VALLEY. Property in Leith Valley suffered fairly heavy loss, as it was no time before the Leith was breaking through'in places. As early as * o’clock in the morning some residents were busy erecting protections in and about their premises. Bags filled with earth were placed along flip river bank to direct the water back into the stream, but in spile of ihis tho roads were flooded to a depth of a foot in places. Towards mid-day the waters receded somewhat, but rose again soon after, and at 2 o’clock in the afternoon part of Malvern street—b< tween Duke street and the bridge'—was isolated. This was caused by part, of the water being diverted at the

bend in the river just above the bridge and flowing through the properties at the north end into Duke sireet, whence it ran into a stieam connecting with the Leith. The water was fairly deep in some places and part of the section nearest the bridge on tlie tor; side o f the street was washed away. This sect on was also badly damaged during the previous flood, and now a third of it has been lost. Considerably anxiety was felt by residents in this locality, as the force of the river was tearing all before it Further up Malvern street conditions were very bad in properties on the river bank, a id in one case a bark garden was washed away. 'I be water broke over the banks very quickly here, as its bed had been raised sft as the result of the piles of boulders that collected there during the previous flood The New Zealand Paper Mills were invaded by water later in the afternoon and Davidson’s mill, which was badly damaged last time, was again in trouble. An electric pole fell down just above ihe mill, and the power was off beyond it,. Anoiher two poles fell further up. Still further up the river again undermined the portion of the road that it washed away the last time, and two bridges ieading across the liver to private houses were carried down stream. A drav was washed down the river in the morning. The Woodhaugh Gardens were badly flooded, and from them the water broke through into premises in Queen street, tearing up the gardens. The river tore into the banks and carried away near-by trees. Although the rainfall was by no, means as heavy as it was the last time, this portion of the town was quite as badly flooded, as the neighbouring hills were ali sodden anu could hold none of the water that fell. AT PORT CHALMERS. At Port Chalmers, the Recreation Ground was flooded. A slip occurred at Cemetery road, and the material fell behind Mr Monti’s house, forcing in the back wall. A gang of men with pricks and shovels set to work to divert, the surface water which was running through the house and out the front door. TAIERI IN A BAD WAY. BACK TO APRIL CONDITIONS. MANY FAMILIES OUT OF THEIR HOMES. The Taieri district had not by any means got clear of the flood waters which visited it last month, nor had much been done to repair the damages to the roads or bridges. Yet yesterday the Taieri was in as bad a plight, as ever. At 8 p.m. our correspondent at Mosgiel telephoned;— After a few pleasant winter days, last night rain commenced and continued all., day, with brief respites. A heavy downpour was blown in from the sea, which proved to be heavier than that of three weeks ago. It did not take the Silverstream, the Ovvhiro, and the Waipori long to flood, and, added to this, came bad news from Middiemarch. The Taieri River rose at (lie rate of six inches in 20 minutes, and simply poured out. over the lower lands through the many breaks the April flood left. To sum up the whole position, it may be said that it is as bad as it was three weeks ago. MOSGIEL FLOODED. Early in the day I was advised that the Silverstream was in flood, and that tho settlers adjoining were in trouble. Investigation showed that from the Factory road to the Silverstream had been turned into a lake. A gang of willing helpers set to work and cut a channel through the read near the Mosgiel Woollen Mills, thus allowing the flood waters to flow into the paddocks on the other side of the road, relieving the flooding of the residences. About 1 o’clock water appeared in tho centre of the town, in Gordon road, proving that the Ovvhiro was over its banks. This was found to be so, and some of the flood waters were coursing over the paddocks into the low-lying ground in this part of the borough. Close by the Ovvhiro many people were obliged to leave their homes, and this also applied to residents on the Silverstream side of the town. Many houses in the centre of Mosgiel were surrounded, although the water was not high enough to enter. The flood is across Gordon rood in several places. STRANDED AT OUTRAM. A resident of Mosgiel who visited Ontram was stranded there. He attempted to return via Allanton, but he found that the road was blocked. He retreated in the hope of getting across the West Taieri bridge at Outram Glen, but the same fate met him. This is only one of many instances of the kind. NOR'ITI TAIERI. Tile Black bridge at North Taieri is isolated, some of the approach having been washed away. Mr Hazlett states that this is the highest rise of the Silverstream on record. SUSPENSE AT OUTRAM. Reports from Outram show that the residents are having an anxious time. The river is at the 18ft 9in mark. This afternoon the trouble being anticipated, guns were fired in the township, and a band of workers commenced to strengthen the bank at W ylie’s. The occupants of the houses in the danger zone are vacating in case of tho waters breaking the houses in. All that is possible is being done to avert a catastrophe, but, as the advice from Hindon is that the water is at the 25ft mark, there is a fear that the workers’ labour will prove in vain when the water from the upper reaches arrives. Middiemarch also reports 9ft above normal and snow on the hills. SOUTH TAIERI. South Taieri is a. vast sea. 'Die flood waters are being added to by Waipori. which is seven feet above normal. The water that is now pouring into tho plain is adding to the unfortunate conditions that were left three weeks ago. FAMILIES TX LOFTS. Allanton reports that the river is nine feet up. A washout has occurred on the Main South road between Otokia and Allanton, and the road is blocked to traffic all ways. In East Taieri some farmers are taking refuge in the lofts of their barns REPORT FROM MILTON. A report from Milton at 9 o’clock stated that it had been raining heavily, but that the fall had eased. The Tokornairiro River was well up. but there was only one place that it was across the road and that, at a point where high waters usually sjircad.

REPORTS FROM CENTRAL. The Superintendent or Telegraphs (Mr V. R. Anderson) reported at 6 p.m. yesterday that there was heavy rain at Cromwell and up country, and a heavy tall of snow on the hills. There was no rise in the rivers. Both were at winter level. Rain had ceased at noon. The weather was still unsettled and very cold. Clyde reported at 5 p.m. that rain had ceased about noon, but the weather was still unsettled. There was no rise in the river since morning. The river was still low and very dirty. A late message from Middleinareh stated that the Taieri River had begun to fall slightly, but there was a decided turn. The weather had faired. The opinion was expressed that the worst was over, and that unless further bad weather came the river was not likely to rise in the locality of Middlemarch. NORTH LINE AFFECTED. It was reported that there had b en a big slip on the south side of the Mihiwaka tunnel 60ft iong and fully 20ft deep, which will take several days to repair. The slip is underneath the rails, which are hanging across the gap in the track. There is a slip on the Otago Central line at Parera. and a serious washout at Mount Allen. Mr Benzoni, district engineer, was proceeding up the line at midnight last night. It is regarded as very doubtful whether the morning train will get through to Cromwell. The Outram line has a washout in it about a quarter of a mile long near Shands. Traffic on this line is therefore suspended until repairs can be effected. MR OOU&TON'S REPORT. Mr B. B. Couston, engineer to the Taieri River Trust and the Taieri County Council, reported late last night:— At Outram the river was sft on the gauge at 3.30 a.m., 9ft 6in at 10.30, 13ft 6in at 11.45, 16ft 6in at 2 p.m., 17ft 7in at 4, ’Sft oin at 6.15. But at that time the river was relieved by the open breaks caused by the April flood in both East and \\ est Taieri. The river was also overtopping the bank at one place below the township. At 9 p.m. the news was that the bank was being held and that the river was slightly lower. At Waipori Falls the Waipori River was 2ft up at 8.30, 6ft 6in at noon, 7ft 9in at 2 p.m., 7ft llin at 3, £ft at 4,9 ft at 6.15, 10ft 6in at 8. At 9 it was down to 10ft 3jin. At Hindc/i tlie Taieri rose to 19ft 6in at 1.30, and by 6.15 it had jumped to 24ft. At 7 p.m. it had fallen slightly from that mark. At Mil dlemarch the river had risen 7ft by 2 p.m., Bft by 4, and 9ft by 7. The Ov.hiro, Mill Creek, and Silverstream reached reoorcl mark in the upper reaches, but owing to the breaks in the banks they did not reach the April flood levels in the lower reaches. After the Taieri reached the lift 6in mark at Outram it poured through the break in the embankment below Outram and again flooded all the area which had been drained during the last three weeks. The river had risen to the Bft mark at 5 p.m. at Allanton, and to 9ft an hour later. At S it was up to 10ft 6in. At Otokia the rise was only 6ft at 6 p.m. The trouble will be known only when the water from above arrives on the lower reaches. Telephone communication was excellent all day, and the officer in charge at Dunedin ariiiged for the Mosgiel, Outram, Allanton, Otokia, and Her) ley bureaux offices to be kept open continuously until ll e danger period is past. The radway engineer arranged for messages to be sent continuously from Hindon, and the city electrical engineer arranged for his officers to send reports every two hours from Outram and Waipori Falls. Owing to these preparations it was possible for everyone in the areas likely to be affected to receive due warning. BLOCKED ROADS. Besides the Main South road, the approach to the Silverstream is blocked at Meikiejohn’s, and no road is available to the Taieri by way of Halfway Bush. The approach to one of the Mill road bridges rear Mcsgiel has been rendered impassable.