THE DUNEDIN FLOOD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16113, 30 April 1923, Page 6

THE DUNEDIN FLOOD.

RESIDENTS' PERILOUS PLIGHT.

HOUSES AND SHOPS FLOODED

The Dunedin Star of April 23 states :

j When the Leith stream broke through : its banks the water flowed like a huge j torrent down Duke street, carrying every movable object with it. The water extended the full width of t.hestreet and Hooded the houses to a depth of 18in. This was late yesterday afternoon, and the occupiers spent many wearisome hours placing articles of furniture out of the reach of the Hood waters. Many of the residents were ali-aid to retire lor the night, fearing that tho water woitld rise still higher. Their fears were realised, when at aboui 4 a.m. the water rose to 2ft. and the women and children became greatly alarmed. The men were then called to the rescue work, and were engaged for some time in carrying the women and j children to neighbors' houses. The water surged with such forco down Duke street that the men found it hard to keep their feet, and some of the women naturally became greatly perturbed.

A heavy slip occurred in Duke street, just at the foot of the Bullock track. The rain had evidently loosened a large section of earth on tho bush-covered side of the cliff. This camo away in a solid lum}) —trees, rockE, and earth — and spilled itself right across the street. It completely blocked the entrance to tho Woodhaugh road. The flood swept into Ferguson's store, at the corner of Duke and George streets, and considerable damage was done. Gradually rising until it covered the shop iloor and the storo houso to a depth of fully a foot, the water soaked bags of sugar, Hour, salt, brand, tobacco, and cigarettes. Mr. Ferguson ostimates the amount of damage at between £6O and £IOO. The water, as it raced down Duke street, tore up the road metal, leaving hollows the. full-length of the road and piles of metal in other parts.

A SCENE OF DESOLATION. The scene beyond tho main Gardens' gate beggars description. Almost every house along the Main North road Mas flooded to a depth of over a fool. At brooms, and shovels were in evideneo at water, it being impossible to reach it dry-shod. Every garden and backyard was covered in water or silt, and presented a deplorable sight. Spades, brooms, and shovels were in evideicc at every house, both back and front. The water, which still surrounded several houses on the main road, was fully 6in. deep. The road was torn almost to pieces, heaps of metal in ono place and hollows and ruts elsewhere testifying to (lie force of the torrent. The tram lines were completely covered with silt and stones for long stretches. A fence at the bridge at Craigleith street undermined by the raging torrent which came down the small Leith stream, and a portion of tho bank washed away. The flood swept the full length of the Main North road all day yesterday, and it was practically impassable. The owner of a store at the corner of Chambers street erected a barricade of timber and sacks outside the shop, and this prevented the water from invading his premises to a certain extent.

Gangs of men were engaged throughout to-day in clearing away the debris and draining off surface water. ■ The north end was visited by hundreds a' sightseers, mostly in motor cars, and everyone seemed to be awed by the scene of desolation presented to their gaze.