FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10401, 15 July 1912, Page 5

FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

Per Press Association.

Christchurch, July 14 Rain ceased to-day in the greater part of Canterbury. The flood at'Fission,is the biggest experienced for many years. This morning the flooding caused by the combined forces of tbe Byre and Gust rivers, at their lowest reach, wera,*if anything, that of yesterday. The main read and line side roads at Flaxtcn were not safe for traffic All the country is a perfect sea, and, although the outfall into tbo Waimakarlrl was fairly good, and tbe river st tbe Kaiapoi Bridge went downlines feet at low tide, at will be some days before the floods get off some hundreds of acres of arable land. The Eyre and Oust drain possibly 800 or 900 square miles, from a level of 788 ft. at Oxford, to the lower altitudes above pea level of 12? t. at Flaston In connection with The •Levels, the height of the Byra overflow towards Ohoka is Blt. higher than at Wilson’s Siding, on which the heavy current impinged, and from Neevfl's Corner to the outfall of the Kaisainui creek, in which another escape from the Byre took place, the decline .Is from 15ft. or 16ft. to 7ft. These two streams have covered some hundreds of acres more than tbe last December floods, or of the previous July floods; in fact they equalled the deluge of tbe jubilee year flood cn July 6th, 1887, and stood a fair ccmparis.au with the Easter inundation of - 1874, as veil as of September, IS9O, on which latter occasion railway traffic at Flaxtcn was suspended practically for a fortnight Last eveniag’s train passengers for Ohoks and Benaetts were conveyed by a three-hcree drag from Kaispoi to Wlison’B Sidine. At Waverley there waa over 3ffe. of water on the road, which entered the floor of the vehicle. The strong force cf the currents and floating logs and timber made the journey in the dark, lighted up by two lamps on the drag, a somewhat adventurous one

A dense fog in Pegseua Bay delayed the ferry steamer Maori for shout sn hoar this morning. The vessel left Wellington aii Bpm yesterday with a strong southerly wind against her, but when she was well down the coast, the wind died away to a calm, and »t 3.30 a.m. to-day, when the Maori was passing Cheviot, she ran Into a very thick fog and had to proceed at' reduced speed aorosß'Pegasus Bay. Noislga of the land cucld be seen as the steamer neared Lyttelton Heads, but the reports of the detonating foghorns at God ley Head were heard plainly. The Maori made her way up Lyttelton harbour in the dense fog, the first lend being sig?.ted after passing .Gollan’s Bsy, and she arrived in port at 8 o’clock. The Maori did cot connect with the first express for Dunedin, but, considering the exceptionally thick log. Captain Aldwell did very well in-getting into port so early. The fog was the first had one which has been experienced this winter, sad it commenced to clear In the outer harbour shortly after the arrival of the Maori.