DROUGHT ENDS

Southland Times, Issue 22512, 21 February 1935, Page 8

DROUGHT ENDS

WEST COAST

HEAVY RAINFALL

FLOODING GENERAL

WORST FOR YEARS

(Per United Press Association.)

Greymouth, February 20. A great transformation to-day in the northern portion of the Westland country from the drought conditions of the past few months was wrought by torrential rains covering the watersheds of the Hokitika, Arahura and Teremakau rivers, also the streams south of Hokitika. Over much of that area the rainfall has exceeded 10 inches since yesterday. Every stream was flooded to the banks or higher, but the waters were very largely concentrated in the Hokitika River which rose to a record height, overflowing into Gibson Quay and Tancred, Fitzherbert, Sewell, Hamilton, Bealey and Weld streets, and inundating the whole of the lower lying part of the town adjacent to the river and sea front. The flood cut away 60 feet of the southern span of the Kanieri bridge three miles from Hokitika which structure had stood for over 60 years. Part of the span stuck against the Hokitika railway bridge, the larger portion going bodily over the bar. , The Hokitika Post Office this afternoon had nearly a foot of water on the floor, while some houses had more than three feet over the floors.

Business is at a standstill and the town was cut off north and south by rail before 8 a.m., no train leaving there, while the train from Greymouth was held up four miles from Hokitika by washouts and water on the line. No mails or other freight could be taken across during the day because the main highway further inland at Stafford suffered far worse than the railway, due to the breakaway of the large Stafford dam. This washed out the roadway entirely and also destroyed a bridge, the stream continuing across the road for some hours, bringing with it trees and other debris. A number of motors were held up and the damage will probably take days to repair.

The train from Ross encountered much water at Ruatapu but came on as far as the Hokitika railway bridge, the rails on which had shifted, preventing the crossing. There is a good deal of erosion in the Hokitika streets, but the waters late this afternoon were receding. The town’s water supply was cut off by slips between there and Lake Kanieri which carried away 12 chains of pipe line and many residences were flooded. Gangs of men have been’ engaged by Perry and Co. and Truman’s and other business firms in shifting goods in the shops. The Hokitika Guardian office had a foot of water in the machine room, the firm losing several reels of paper. The bakehouse of J. Hurren in Bealey street was inundated from a drain and much flour was lost. The bridge on the Kanieri Lake road was carried away and the Hokitika Anglican Church vicarage and school were flooded from the same drain as Hurren’s. People negotiated the streets in boats as the water was too deep for motors. In Greymouth 277 points fell in 24 hours to nine a.m. to-day, and from then until 8 p.m. the fall measured 180 points. North of Greymouth there was heavy rain but not sufficient to cause much damage. All trains and road traffic were able to get through. The Grey River and Sawyers Creek are both swollen and in the town itself there was some flooding in the streets due to the water tables being inadequate to carry the rainfall. The road to Otira is blocked by slips and the bridge is damaged and motors will be unable to get through for a day or two. Telegraphic and telephonic interruptions were intermittent to-day owing to slips, but there was a restoration to-night.

A slip at the Turiwhati Bluff-Otira road is blocking the road. A culvert has been badly washed out near Neam’s house. Tire occupants narrowly escaped when a slip came through on to the .Tracey homestead at Wainihinihi. The family were forced to evacuate.

The English women cricketers who arrived on the West Coast yesterday from Christchurch, left the train at Otira intending to go to the glaciers by car, but were held up on the way and will now leave by the express for Christchurch to-morrow. Full details of the bridge and road damage in the Westland county are yet unavailable owing to the interruption of communications, but it is generally agreed the flood is the worst in Hokitika’s history. WASHOUTS ON ROADS (Per United Press Association.) Westport, February 20. Although there has been heavy rain in the Buller district, the damage is not nearly so great as further south. A washout occurred at Four Mile above Lyell on the Buller road and it is understood cars will not get through to-morrow. It may be necessary to revert to the Maruia route, which was used during the construction of the earthquake damage to the Buller road.

A washout has occurred at Dirty Mary’s Creek on the coastal road, but the new bridge under construction is available for traffic. A slip has occurred at Konini Creek on the Karamea route, holding up traffic, except by cars meeting on either side of the slip.