HEAVY RAIN CAUSES RIVERS TO RISE

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 9

HEAVY RAIN CAUSES RIVERS TO RISE

ORETI OVERFLOWS ITS BANKS Many rivers in Southland rose rapidly yesterday with the heavy rain that fell in most parts of the province. The onlj flooding that was reported last night was caused by the Oreti river overflowing its banks in certain sections and flooding low-lying areas near Lumsden. Snow fell at several points in the province including Glenary, Waikaia and Garston. . River reports received at the Chief Post Office, Invercargill, yesterday morning stated: Lumsden: At 9.25 a.m. the Oreti was about two feet above normal; steady rain was falling. Gore: At 10.45 a.m. the Mataura was two feet'll inches above normal. The sky was overcast and rain was falling. Glenary: River slightly above normal; snow falling. Wakaia: River two feet above normal; snowing. Garston: River three feet above normal and heavy rain falling. Balfour: River three feet above normal; raining hard. In the afternoon additional information was received which stated that the Mataura at Gore had risen to three feet above normal and that rain was still falling. The Glenary was two feet above normal and snow had continued to fall. The Waikaia had risen another six inches. The river at Balfour was five feet above normal and rising fast. Garston reported that snow was still falling and that the river was three feet eight inches above normal. At 4.30 p.m. the Oreti at Lumsden had risen since the morning reading and steady rain was falling. HEAVY RAIN IN EASTERN SOUTHLAND Heavy rain began to fall at Gore and throughout Eastern Southland overnight and continued all day yesterday. District rivers and streams rose sharply as a result of the steady downpour. Reports from northern districts stated that heavy rain was falling yesterday afternoon, and snow was falling at Glenaray and Garston. A river report issued by the Gore Post Office yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock stated:— Gore: River 3ft above normal. Raining; weather overcast. Glenaray: River 2ft above normal Snowing. Waikaia: River 2ft 6in above normal. Raining. Balfour: River sft above normal and rising quickly. Gaiston: River 3ft Bin above normal. Snowing.