FLOODS RECEDE IN CANTERBURY

Southland Times, Issue 25747, 10 August 1945, Page 4

FLOODS RECEDE IN CANTERBURY

Stock Losses May Be Heavy MUD AND~DEBRIS IN SUBURBAN STREETS

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. The flood waters throughout Canterbury are now receding and the threat of a further flooding has now passed. The torrential rain which continued to fall until a late hour yesterday turned to snow in the country districts, and a fall of from six to three inches was recorded from the foothills well down on to the plains. Although it is early for lambing, stock losses are expected to be considerable, one farmer from Hororata reporting the loss of 300 head.

On the main north road 30 miles beyond Kaikoura the Blue Slip has buried both road and railway, but railway officials estimate that the line will be cleared ready for the express on Monday. In Christchurch itself, the flood waters at Shirley, Avonside, Sumner and Radley have receded considerably, leaving a sea of mud and debris behind them. People evacuated from Shirley yesterday were moving back into their homes today. The main south road was clear this morning and the north road was clear as far as Parnassus. The Arthur’s Pass road was blocked by snow, and the Lewis Pass road is in a similar condition.

MAIN LINES OPEN Railway lines are open,' with the exception of the north line, which is open only as far as Parnassus, and the Waiau line, which is not expected to be clear until Monday. Brilliant sunshine this morning gave Kaiapoi a chance to dry out after yesterday’s record flood, and many of the evacuated families were able to return home and survey the damage. _ Six streets on the north side, of Kaiapoi were still very much under water this morning, though the fall was perceptible, as the roadways carried enough current to make rowing against it difficult.

Early yesterday and during the morning close on 100 families were evacuated. In the meantime the Mayor’s Fund at Kaiapoi is providing necessities, but the possibility of a Government grant has been suggested. A measure of the way in which the flood had subsided this morning was given by the fact that a small car parked in Akaroa street was covered to its rooftop at the height of the flood yesterday afternoon. This morning the water was down to the level of the bonnet.

ROAD AND RAILWAY BURIED (P.A.) BLENHEIM, August 9. It is estimated that at least 3000 cubic yards of papa rock will have to be removed at the Blue Slip, where both the main south highway and the south main trunk railway are buried by the huge slip which came down on Tuesday afternoon. Two bulldozers are on the scene, but because of the soft nature of the papa rock, little headway has yet been possible. It is estimated that the slip extends to a width of 100 yards and has a depth of 20 feet. Great masses of papa are still coming aWay from the hillside. No indication is yet possible when through communication will be restored.