HEAVY RAIN

Southland Times, Issue 22010, 9 May 1933, Page 8

HEAVY RAIN

EASTERN SOUTHLAND. RIVERS ABOVE NORMAL. Since Saturday night very heavy rain fell almost continuously in Eastern Southland and late yesterday serious flooding had occurred in all parts of the district. The downpour reached its highest during Sunday and continued very heavily overnight, the fall being measured at Gore yesterday morning for the previous 24 hours at 1.23 in. Surface water was lying in the paddocks in all parts of the district yesterday morning, and many of the smaller streams had overflowed their banks and wide areas were inundated. The section of the main Invercargill —Dunedin highway in the vicinity, of McNab, which is subjected to flooding was blocked for traffic yesterday morning. At noon portions of the road were covered by water up to 2ft 6in. The water rose steadily during . the afternoon and was still rising at nightfall.

The Waimea and Otamita streams were very high yesterday and the former had overflowed its banks and was over the road in places. Although the water was rising rapidly it was not anticipated that any of the roads in this district would be impassable before dark. At foui- o’clock yesterday the Gore Post Office issued the following report:— Gore.—Mataura river 3ft 6in above normal. Weather cold and showery. Wind south-westerly. Garston — River still rising, raining. Waikaia.—Glenaray Station reports river normal. Snow on high country and hills. Waikaia river Ift 6in above normal. Weather very stormy. Waikaka.—River 4ft 6in above normal. ®

Balfour.—River 3ft lOin above normal. Weather overcast and showery. After heavy rain throughout yesterday it was still raining at Gore last evening and the, weather showed no sign of improvement. It was reported that in the vicinity of Waipahi the flood waters were very high, being fence high in some parts. Railway passengers stated that they noticed a _ car partly submerged on the main highway, having been caught in the flood water which had risen considerably since.

AVOIDING FLOOD WATER. The following detour, which addx about eight miles to the journey north, is suggested by the secretary of the Southland Motor Association (Mr J. S. Dick) for motorists travelling between Gore and Waipahi: To be quite sure of avoiding flood water between McNab and Willowbank, and on the main road at McNab and south of Waipahi, motorists should take the first turn to the left after turning the corner at 'the Whiterig Dairy Factory. This turn leads over Syme’s Hill to Willowbank, and from there the red and blue colour sign leads through Waikoikoi to the corner just before the Black Bridge is reached. At this corner there is a sign-post pointing to Waipahi and motorists turn to the right and proceed via Conical Hill to the main road just north of Waipahi.