SUDDEN AND DISASTROUS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 64, 21 March 1929, Page 5

SUDDEN AND DISASTROUS

FLOODS IN DUNEDIN. PEOPLE FORCED TO LEAVE; HOMES, RESCUED IN BOATS. DUNEDIN, Lust Night. The hood which swept Dunedin and its environs yesterday was as sudden as it was disastrous. Up to 3 p.m., though the rain was persistent and heavy, there was no threat of a hood, hut by 5 o’clock the Water of Leith had leapt its banks and was descending upon the northern area. Concord Creek was pouring down tbo Cavershara tunnel into the southern suburb, and there was every indication of a repetition of the floods of 1923. So far as the northern area is concerned, it has proved probably even more damaging. Between 9 o’clock and 2 a.m.,, a big band of workers, police, naval men from the Dunedin, social workers and firemen were hard at it removing people from their homes in Woodhaugh, North-east Valley and Harbour Terrace where in places there were 4 feet to 5 feet of water. HIGHLY DANGEROUS. Some of the work was highly dangerous, the flood waters moving like a river current. In one instance it took isix men to carry one woman clear, and then on© of the rescuers was carried off his feet and swept down many yards. Towards 11 o’clock the Lejth waters, flowijng via Cumberland and Castle streets, were as far citywards as St. Andrew Street, and later 1 from Castle Street they invaded lower High Street , as far as Queen’s 'Gardens. This, morning there were still 3 feet of water and debris in St. Andrew Street.

The southern suburbs escaped more lightly than in 1923, but there, too, many houses were flooded and there is much damage reported. The train services were badly hit. The south express last night had to return from Moskiel owing to breaks further south, but a special got/ |awfay| this) morning, carrying the Premier and his party to a complimentary banquet at Invercargill. The north lino is still blocked by a. big break at Mihiwaka.

This morning revealed a scene of havoc and desolation in the eastern and northern ends of the city. From the outlet of the Leith at the boat harbour to the Leith Valley bridge the floqd has wrought its damage. Premises, both residential and commercial, visited by the flood waters have their floors covered with a loathesomo coating of slime. Poads aro torn, bridges are down, Ivuge pieces of the banks have disappeared and many houses are still surrounded by water. One borne is ruined, a big slice of the Leith Valley Road has gone with the flood waters.

TERRIFYING NIGHT. Although not so extended in duration the flood last night was more serious for the northern and eastern parts of the city than the flood of April, 1923. A greater area was' covered with water, and on the lowlying land near Logan Park the residents spent a terrifying night. ■ The inmates of every house in the lower part of Harbour Terrace were forced to vacate their homes the water rose four feet early in the evening. At high tide (11 pan.) the flood was at its worst, and within an hour; a fall of live feet was recorded at the Forth Street bridge. Meanwhile the rescuers were paying greater' attention ; to Harbour Terrace and Harrow Street, owing to the fearful battering from logs crashing their way to the harbour and the forceful passage of water, wa s really the start of the flooding of that district. Men in all manner of attire threw themselves into the rescue work, and it was with relief that the announcement was made that everybody was safe.. One old man in a tenement near Forth St. would not leave his premises and he had to he forcibly removed. It was just in time, as a little later his home was flooded out and marooned in an ocean of muddy waterl.

Across Union Street the waters raced to Harbour Terrace, and then across to Logan Park. Lake Logan op old was once again a lake, and in a shorter time than anybody would have prophesied the dip in Union Street was a big basin through, which wading was impossible. A rowboat was used here early in the evening to rescue the people.