SERIOUS FLOODS THREATENED

Southland Times, Issue 24597, 20 November 1941, Page 4

SERIOUS FLOODS THREATENED

RIVERS RISE RAPIDLY HEAVY RAIN IN LAST 24 HOURS The country districts of Southland arc threatened by serious floods if there is no cessation of the heavy rain that has been falling during the last 24 hours. The rivers rose rapidly yesterday and late last night flooding- had begun in some districts, and at least one road was blocked. Rain was still falling at an

early hour this morning. Steady rain began to fall in the Gore district early yesterday morning and the downpour continued throughout the day and last night. District streams rose rapidly and last evening the Waikaka Valley road at the foot of Sheddan’s Hill was under water to a depth of about a foot. The road was blocked to traffic at a late hour last night and the water was still rising. The Gore branch of the Automobile Association (Southland) advises that motorists should proceed with caution on all roads leading to Central Otago. The main north road was in fail - order last night. The main road to Tapanui was also covered in several places north of the Waikaka Valley school yesterday, but the flooding on this road was not in any way serious. The road between Heriot and Kelso was covered to a depth of a few inches at some points and the road between Kelso and Waikaka also carried a quantity of surface water. CROPS MAY SUFFER Surface water was lying in low paddocks on many farm properties in the Waikaka Valley, Waikaka, Tapanui, Edievale, Heriot and Kelso districts yesterday, and it was apparent last night that if the downpour continues crops in these districts will suffer. The flooding was most severe in the Waikaka Valley area. The Oreti river was just touching the top of the bank at Mossburn about 7 o’clock last night, and was expected to be over the bank by this morning. Low-lying country around the river was under water and there was every indication of a flood if the rain continued.

WASH-OUT AT MACKAY CREEK There has been a wash-out on the Eglinton Valley road at Mac Kay Creek between Te Anau Downs and Te Anau. At Eyre Creek, between Parawa and Athol, the railway line was covered to a depth of 18 inches in the morning, and the water was still rising in the afternoon. The wet weather held up all shearing operations, and the shearing class being conducted in Lumsden will be abandoned as soon as the sheep already in the shed are finished. The Oreti river has been rising since last Sunday, and snow and heavy rain have been falling in the back country. The Oreti river was rising at the Iron Bridge last night and was about two feet six inches above normal. It was expected that water would cover the road if the river rose another three inches.

Steady rain fell throughout the day in Invercargill. The rainfall for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday was 1.29 inches, all of which fell during a period of 12 hours. The total for the month to 9 a.m. yesterday was 4.13 inches. The rainfall to 9 a.m. this morning should bring the total to well over five inches. The rainfall total to 9 a.m. on November 12 was 1.92 inches. Thus about three inches have fallen during the past week.

HEAVY RAIN IN QUEENSTOWN Rain has been falling in Queenstown continuously since 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday. The weather was very rough yesterday, with claps of thunder and lightning. All the creeks near Queenstown have risen.

During the past six days 3.83 inches of rain have fallen in Bluff and the total for the month up to yesterday was 5.48 inches. Some idea of the heavy rainfall since last Friday can be gained from the following recordings taken at the reservoir on Bluff hill:—Friday, 63 points; Saturday, 48; Sunday, 46; Monday, 41; Tuesday, 68; Wednesday, 118.