THE FLOODS

Southland Times, Issue 18939, 12 May 1923, Page 5

THE FLOODS

DESTRUCTION UNPRECEDENTED ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO BRIDGES FRIGHTFUL HAVOC OF DELUGE. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, May 11. Mr F. W. Furkett, Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department gave some particulars of the damage done by floods in the South Island, especially to road and railway bridges over rivers. He roughly estimated that it will cost anything up to £50,000 to repair the damage in instances mentioned. Mr Furkett states that the nature of the destruction was unprecedented and of a character such as he has never heard or seen before, except in India, where rivers silt up to a depth of 70 feet or more. The Clarence bridge between Kaikoura and Blenheim appears to have experienced the fully fury of the storm and flood. It was a substantial construction of wood and steel on cylinder foundations. Except for piers on the land these cylinders were filled with concrete, but the northern one has been completely washed out of the river bed. This caused the span to fall into the river, leaving such a large area exposed to the force of the flood that the next span disappeared. The bridge was built 41 years ago and although no railway line ran across it, provision was made for it when it was constructed, it being strengthened for this purpose. Some of the cylinders full of concrete, were 35 feot in the ground. After withstanding all weathers for over forty years, two have been washed clean out. The river bank has also been subjected to so much erosion that it is 150 feet wider at this point than it was before the flood. The amount of damage is estimated from £6OOO to £BOOO. The bridge was the main artery between Kaikoura and Blenheim. Kaikoura was at present in consequence isolated.

The Conway bridge between Awatere ar.d Kaikoura is also reported to have been detroyed. Th? piers of this bridge were of ironbark. Piles in double rows were braced together and driven 28ft into the river bed. These have been washed right out of the ground. Mr Furkett stated that fifteen feet was usually considered to be a pretty safe depth for piles, but these piers were driven through gravel till they rested on the solid rock below’. Three spans, each 80 feet in length, disappeared. For cylinders like those in the Clarence river to be washed out was unprecedented. The Hurunui bridge between Cheviot and Waipara has gone by the board. This was built on a single row of six ironbark piles, sunk 25 feet deep in shingle, but the flood pulled them all out. Three spans 52 feet each are lying somewhere in the bottom of the river. This bridge would cost at least £2OOO to replace. The first great bridge on the main south road between Cheviot and Waipara has gone altogether. Three spans of the second great bridge have suffered likewise. These were not gimcrack bridges, said Mr Furkett. They were on concrete piers set in solid rock.

Six spans, each forty feet, in length of the railway bridge over the Waiau river near Parnassus have been washed away. None of these piles were less than 22 feet in the ground, and in a solid bed of shingle. This was a combined road and railway bridge, and the people of Parnassus are getting their provisions across the river by means of a wire rope. llr Furkett says that he will not be surprised if it costs quite £50,000 to repair the damage done to the bridges. MIDLAND LINE. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. The Press says that it is possible that the effects of the rain upon the Midland railway line between Kowai Bush and Avoca will require such extensive reconstruction that, although temporary repairs may be made in a few weeks, the line will not be permanently safe and in condition to carry passengers with perfect safety and without danger of interruption for many months. FOOD SUPPLIES ASSURED. THE WEST COAST BLOCKAGE. WALKING THE PLANK BETWEEN PRECIPICES. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. “There is no cause for any feeling of alarm over food supplies for any of the flooded Canterbury districts,” said Mr P. C. Climie, organiser of the Canterbury Progress League to-day. “The Railway Department are doing all they possibly can to maintain communication with such places as Avoca, on the Midland railway. There is no occasion to feel alarmed concerning any possible hardships which might be inflicted, though, of course, there is a certain amount of inconvenience.”

Further particulars are coming to light concerning the serious blockage on the railway line to the West Coast. The end of tunnel No. 9 is the scene of the most serious slip. A brief distance separates this i tunnel from the next one. Above the mountain side rears a precipitous slope that goes away up to the regions of the snows. Below there is an abrupt and awesome drop to the level of the river bed. The spot is a cairn that seems to be midway between earth and sky, and a long way from both. Out of the mountain side, the waters have cut a wedge-like gap that has bitten deeply for a space of 125 feet. The permanent way has disappeared and an ugly gulf cuts off one tunnel from the other. Over it like a suspension bridge hangs the railway line, every sleeper still in place. The only passable crossing is by this novel suspension bridge. It is an eerie business. The hanging wreckage of the line vibrates at each step, and at the middle, one prays for sure feet. As the great swing sways, one stands over the centre of a great gulf and boulders are visible far down between the sleep- | ers. This cavern falls away almost sheer to the Broken River. There is desolation above and below and death in one misplaced step. To the railway repair man the crossing of a terrifying bridge of that kind is part of the day’s work. It is the only way of crossing and, as he crosses, his feet displace the shingle that still clings to the sleepers and send it rattling into the abyss beneath. It is the mending of this break that will lengthen the restoration of railway communication with the

Coast. Deviation is utterly impossible and filling the gap is equally beyond the scheme of practical things. A bridge will have to be built and, before it can be started, the rest of the line must be in a state to permit of the transport of the necessary material. The finding of sure emplacements for piles may prove difficult in such a mass of shaken wreckage. To the layman, it looks a most arduous task. A start with the bridge here will be made at the earliest possible moment, and supplies where they are available will be drawn from such portions of the line as are not cut off from this section. In a moving train this spot is little more than a flash of daylight between two tunnels, but passengers who are observant during that instant will see a spectacle that will make them welcome the blackness that when the next tunnel is reached tells them they are safely across. SACK TO NORMAL. DANGER OF NOR’-WESTER. (Per United Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. Back to normal is the essence of reports received to-day in regard to districts affected by floods. The waters are receding, and only very low lying areas are now carrying flood water. Although the weather does not

appear to have “taken up” permanently, rain has held off and the only danger at the present time is from a north-wester in the hill districts. If such a wind should get up, it would be serious, as there is a very large snowfall on the ranges extending down into the foothills. The Waimakariri river is normal at Kaiapoi, and flood waters are rapidly draining away from the flats. All houses are now approachable with gum-boots. Thick deposits of silt have been left in the houses, and much personal property has been ruined. With the better weather, farmers who have suffered losses are now able to ascertain the position. The greatest difficulty for many of them will he to find grazing for their stock, as the flood waters have left ccatings of silt on the paddocks. Hand-feeding of stock will have to be resorted to in many instances. MARLBOROUGH’S DISASTER SETTLERS’ TERRIBLE PLIGHT BLENHEIM, May 11. Speaking at a meeting of the Borough Council last night the Mayor said the flood was the gravest disaster that had ever befallen the district. Some settlers in Whittle’s bend locality had lost everything on their farms, and some might lose even their farms unless the local authorities were successful in turning the water back to its original channels. In other parts of the district the losses were not so revere and could be made up. In Blenheim working people had suffered I severely, and it was stated some people were sleeping on wet beds. In this connection the Mayor stated that the Catholic authorities had given the use of St. Pat rick’s Hall and the Hospital Board promised to provide blankets. A Red Cross offer was received from Wellington of assistance of clothing, etc. Lord Jellicoe wired sympathy and regret at the serious damage done and the consequent distress. Offers of assistance have been received from all over the country, including the Mayor and councillors of Picton. Money is coming in freely for the purpose of relief funds but will be only a drop in the decan of distress and need.

The body of John Ernest Gledhill, one of the victims of the Grovetown tragedy, was found about a chain from ths spot where Mr Robinson's body was recovered. An inquest was' held last evening and a verdict of accidentally drowned returned. The countryside generally is in an awful mess. Road communication has been opened up between Picton and Blenheim, but railway traffic is still dislocated owing to wash-outs. Business people are getting down to normal again. DAMAGE TO BRIDGES. BLENHEIM, May H. There was nothing new to report about the flood except reports from the Awatere and Flaxbourne districts. The flood in the Awatere river is a sight never to be forgotten. A seething mass cf muddy water filled the whole river, bank to bank, and running at a furious rate. The full extent of the damage has not yet been made known, but a good deal of damage has been done to bridges. The approach to the Ure bridge is in a shaky condition. The main bridge in the Linkwater district wait washed away, and the smaller bridge in Cullensville road is damaged and rendered unsafe for traffic. Many acres of fine pasture land have been buried under silt, some places to a depth of two feet. FINE WEATHER IN WESTLAND HOKITIKA, May 11. Through traffic by motor car between Christchurch and Hokitika was re-opened yesterday. Clements’ Motors Ltd., report that between Hokitika and Craigieburn normal road conditions prevail. Between the latter and Porter’s Pass there is from one to three feet of snow. Arrangements have been made for a through daily service. In marked contrast, Westland has been experiencing splendid weather for the last six weeks. There has been over one hundred hours’ sunshine during the last fortnight. DAMAGE IN THE WAIRARAPA. MASTERTON, May 11. The floods in the rivers are now receding. Reports from the back country state that considerable damage was done to roads by slips, while two bridges have been swept away. Some roads are impassable through washouts and slips and traffic is held up. Very large areas of country were under water yesterday, but as the rivers are receding the anxiety of settlers is decreasing. It is feared much stock has been lost.