FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 17305, 29 March 1913, Page 6

FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND

BIGGEST SINCE 1878 NUMEROUS RAILWAY WASHOUTS One Drowning Case Reported NORTHERN EXPRESS STUCK UP Lumsden and Otautau Under Water SEVERE LOSSES 0E STOCK AND CROPS

Tbs heavy rain which Met in shortly after six o’clock on Thursday evening, and continued up to about 11 o’clock last night, was general throughout Southland, and has been the means of bringing about the biggest and most disastrous flood since the big flood of 1878. All the rivers and creeks were in flood, and the losses of stock and crops in stock and in stack are reported to he very heavy. The warm rain melted the snow on the mountains, and snow-fed rivers like the Uataura were quickly overspreading their banks. An estimate of the actual damage and loss sustained in the various districts Is not yet available, bat the consensus of opinion is that It will be the severest that the Southland country districts have ever experienced. LUMSDEN. At Lumsden it rained for a solid twenty-four hours, and at 7.30-last night there was a stretch of two miles of flood waters. There were two feet of water In the main street, and the premises of Mr G. P. Johnstone (merchant), and Mr Small (baker) were flooded, besides all the dwelling houses in the vicinity. The little township was In a state of confusion, and fathers were busily engaged throughout the day shifting their families to higher ground. The loss of stock and crops up country is tremendous, thousands of sheaves and hundreds of sheep could be seen floating down the stream. The railway ganger at Mararoa Bridge stated that in the space of a few minutes he saw fully 500 sheep floating past The settlers at Five Rivers in particular are in a parlous plight It was mentioned by our Lumsden correspondent that hawks were perched on many of the carcases of sheep that were whirled past OTAUTAU. The floods in the Otautau district are phenomenal, and many of the oldest settlers in the district state that It is the heaviest flood experienced in that district, far exceeding that of 1878, which was so disastrous in lts uf . effects. The rain commenced on Thursday afternoon, and had continued until late last evening, and it then showed no signs of abating. Farmers in the surrounding districts were warned by telephone yesterday, and no doubt the loss was by this nreans greatly lessened. Notwithstanding the warning, however, it was found Impossible to provide shelter and safety to many sheep, and consequently,, great numbers of these were drowned and washed away. On’the flat country all, the outstanding crops, and there were very few which were not outstanding. were washed away, and the loss experienced by farmers in this way will take many a day to repair. Great damage was also done to County Council and public property. The Yellow Bluff Bridge was washed clean away. Some idea as to the severity of the flood may be gleaned from the fact that the water in the yards of residents In the township was several feet deep, and many of the residents experienced great discomfiture by having, even inside their houses, to wade through water a foot deep. The overflowing of the Jacob’s River into the Otautau stream greatly increased the severity of the floods. The loss experienced is enormous, and at this time of the year it will be particularly accentuated. The loss caused by the flooding of the Waiau has also accounted for considerable damage being done. GORP AND DISTRICT. Rain started in and around Gore at about 4 o’clock on Thursday afternoon, and until late last evening when it was still raining steadily, no cessation had been experienced. The damage In Gore itself, was not, of course, very serious, but in the surrounding efuntry the loss experienced by many of the farmers was very heavy. A farmer In the Chatton district said that many sheep and sheaves were being carried down the Mataura River. This was early in the afternoon, but as the day advanced the consequences would be much more serious. The flood is easily the heaviest experienced in that district since the flood of 1878, and by many it was stated that the present flood was even heavier than on that occasion. Traffic from Lake Te Anau to Lumsden was entirely suspended. The river at Garston between two and three o’clock was very heavily in flood, and the Mataura and Oreti rivers were also in heavy flood at that time, and were still rising. DIPTON. Dipton, early yesterday morning, was also submerged, and both the Oreti and the Dipton overflowed their banks to a serious extent. Here also there were considerable losses in stock and in crops. WINDHAM, At Wyndham the Mimihau and Wyndham rivers were very high, and when the Mataura river comes down, which will probably be this morning, it is expected that the backing up of the Mimihau waters will cause the flood to extend to the main streets of the township. Mataura Island, which is subject to floods, received notice early yesterday morning of the dangerous state of the Mataura river, and, as usual, the residents took prompt precautions to make tilings as secure as possible. WAIAU. The Waiau river rose very rapidly, and early yesterday morning all traffic across the ferry had to be suspended. All the smaller streams between Orepuki and Tnatapere were also in flood, and losses will be fairly severe. WAIRJO. In the Wairio, Wreys Bush, and AparIma districts a similar unfortunate state of affairs existed, and traffic on many of the roads was entirely stopped. The foot suspension bridge, recently erected across the Orawia, near Birchwood, has been carried away, as also were the protective works at Stroud’s, The Aparima bridge at Power’s, which had been damaged by the previous big flood. Is again in a bad way. The houses in Wreys Bush township were flooded. GUARDS’ REPORTS. Railway guards’ on their arrival at Invercargill yesterday, had all a similar doleful tale to tell, and it would seem that every stream In Southland, big or small, had been endeavouring to create a high water mark record. Similarly. reports from all parts coincided regarding the severe losses sustained.

CROPS. Fortunately, the season is early yet, and when flood waters have not done damage, the crops standing and in stock, if given another spell of warm weather, will not have suffered to an extent to cause any deterioration.. Stacks, however, which were not thatched or covered, would be put to a very severe test, and the probabilities are that a big proportion will have to be taken down—partially at any rate. Last year the heating of stacks was a common occurrence, and the latest downpour will undoubtedly again create a tendency to stuff being threshed in bad order, unless very favourable conditions, and proper treatment, follow. DROWNING FATALITY AT HOKONUL FLOODS CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE. The floods in one case at least resulted In the loss of one life, and came very near to claiming two other victims, who after a long and trying experience were finally rescued. A telephonic message was received by Inspector Norwood at the Police Station yesterday afternoon stating that J. Walsh, along with two brothers named Dickson, while driving in a trap, were by some means or other precipitated into the Otaplri River at Hokonui. Walsh was drowned, but the two brothers succeeded in reaching a small island in the middle of the river, where it was impossible to reach them. A party had set out from Browns with ropes to try to rescue the two brothers, but their attempts were unsuccessful, and it was requested that a boat be sent out from Invercargill. Accordingly a party comprising Inspector Norwood, Constable McPherson, Mr Duthie, Mr Hastie and Mr Wilks, who had kindly given their services, set out for the scene with a boat They left by motor lorry, but had gone about twelve miles when word was received that the two men, who had been on the island since twelve o’clock, had been rescued. The means by which the rescue was effected are not at present known. It is reported that the river has never before been seen In such a flooded state. The body of Walsh has not yet been recovered. ' NUMEROUS WASHOUTS. The effect of the floods on the railway traffic throughout Southland has been very serious, I ’and washouts on different lines were numerous. Last evening the second express from Dunedin to Invercargill was held up between Arthurton and Pukerau and was unable to proceed further. A train was, however, run from Gore Into Invercargill last night, reaching here about 10 o’clock. The first express to Dunedin in the morning, will be able to travel only as fat as Gore, and if the floods have not' receded sufficiently, the secohji express'wllT.also be unable to complete its journey, and traffic between these two centres may, therefore, be suspended until to-mor-row, which will cause ■ great inconvenience. The 4.30 train yesterday to Clinton reached as far as Gore only, on account of the washout which was also responsible for the holding-up of the express. It Is not thought likely that today's trains to Kingston will be able to continue beyond Winton. Washouts were reported on the Switzers line, the Waikaka line, on the Mararoa branch, and between Winton and Kingston there are numerous breaks, some of them of an extensive nature. The services on these lines will probably to a great extent be dislocated to-day, and unless the floods recede greatly within the next eigjit hours, many of the afternoon, as well as the morning trains, will be unable to proceed beyond certain points. Yesterday the morning train to Kingston got as far as Josephvillc, and as there were breaks in front and behind, it had to remain there. There are also washouts between Thornbury and Otautau, and last night trains could get no further than Thornbury. On the Mararoa branch is a washout ten chains in extent, and the maintenance has been whirled away to a depth of four feet. There is an immense washout at Athol, the whole of the bank , being made a clean sweep of. The railway authorities quickly bad everything in readiness to repair the damage to the various lines, and special gangs were quickly organised. Until the water abates, however, very little repairing work can be done. (Per United Press Association.) GORE, March 28. The Ensign’s Lumsden correspondent wired that the river was still rising at 3 p.m., and was flowing through the lower part of the town. There was no sign of the rain abating. Several horsemen who managed to get through from Mossburn report washouts on the Mossburn line. Great losses of stock are likely in the low-lying country. Already sheep are coming down the river, and a number of residences are partly submerged, and occupants fitting to drier ground. Telegraphic communication with Te Anau is suspended, the wires being down. The Waikaka train leaving Gore at 3.50 had to return, returning at 6.45. It was impossible to get past Maitland owing to floods. The Mataura river is rising. Floods are reported in Central Otago, the Hermitage, and the Bealey (Canterbury). RAINFALL IN INVERCARGILL. The rainfall in Invercargill was an exceedingly steady one. and from the time it commenced on Thursday evening till it ceased between ten and eleven o’clock last evening, the rain did not at any time show any signs of abatement. From 7 p.m. on Thursday till 9 a.m. on Friday 1.55 Inches fell, and from 9 a.m. yesterday morning until 9.30 last evening 1.05 inches were registered. The previous highest rainfall for Invercargill was experienced on December 17th last year when 1.76 inches fell in 24 hours. It will thus be seen that yesterday’s rainfall establishes a new record, and taken for the twenty-four hours fully two inches must have been recorded.