IN FLOOD

Southland Times, Issue 20609, 6 October 1928, Page 8

IN FLOOD

WAIMAKIRIRI RIVER LARGE AREA INUNDATED LOWER PORTION OF COUTTS’ ISLAND SWEPT (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, October 5. At 11 a.m. yesterday the Waimakariri River had risen sft above normal, and was still rising at the rate of 3in. an hour. With heavy rains falling in the back country and a high temperature melting the snow, there was every cause to expect a flood of some magnitude. The banks held during the night keeping the river within its bed but the flood waters swept over the lower portion of Coutts’ Island, inundating a large area. This morning there was between two feet and three feet of water over the lower part of the island. All stock on the island was shifted yesterday afternoon and this morning farmers on the south bank were shifting their stock as a precaution. It was reported to the police last evening that the body of an unknown man had been seen floating in the river. BODY IN RIVER. Christchurch, October 5. The body of a man was seen floating down the Waimakiriri River at White’s Bridge between 5 and 6 o’clock yesterday evening by a contractor, Mr H. Farrier, who followed down the river bank for over a mile trying to recover it, but darkness set in. The body was that of a fairly big man. It was dressed in a white singlet, cardigan jacket and dark trousers. The police are searching the lower reaches of the river and adjacent foreshores as the body was probably carried out to sea by the heavy flood in the river last night.