FLOOD WATERS RECEDING

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 8

FLOOD WATERS RECEDING

Most Roads Open

For Traffic

Although the weather cleared yesterday some of the roads in Southland were reported to be still blocked. Most of the rivers were falling, but the Makarewa was rising yesterday and it was expected to continue to rise. The Iron Bridge was closed to traffic. There were about three feet of water over the road. A report from the Automobile Association (Southland) stated that portions of the ''Vest Plains-Taramoa road were still under water and would be for some time. The Gorge Road-Titiroa road was under water. The road at Lochiel was clear. At Hedgehope the road was under water in patches for about two miles. The main road to Dunedin was clear. All roads to Central Otago were clear, but patches of water made it advisable for motorists to negotiate them with care. The road to Queenstown was open for traffic and a bus got through yesterday. EASTERN SOUTHLAND Rivers in Eastern Southland were still carrying a big volume of water yesterday. At least one district road was not passable last night. The road to Waikaka was covered to a depth of about a foot at the bottom of Sheddan’s hill, but the road was passable. The back road to Mataura was still blocked by about 3ft of water, but the Diamond Peak road was open in the afternoon. The Waikaia road was also passable, the flood waters having receded sufficiently to allow the Waikaia bus to make its trip to Gore. Although the day was overcast at Gore little rain fell and the weather appeared to be clearing last night. The prospects of further flooding appeared to be slight. District rivers were reported to be falling last night. On the Eglinton Valley road, the Whitestone, Dunton and McKay bridges have been washed away by flood waters. RAIN GENERAL The rain throughout the past week has been fairly general and paddocks throughout the countryside are carrying casual water. October was a dry month, but heavy rain in November has more than made up the difference. The rainfall in October was only 2.97 inches compared with the average fall for the month of 4.50 inches. Up to yesterday morning the rainfall for November was 5.12 inches. The heaviest fall occurred in 48 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, when 2.29 inches were recorded in Invercargill.