TORRENTIAL STORM STRIKES OTAGO

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 143, 7 September 1927, Page 13

TORRENTIAL STORM STRIKES OTAGO

LAWRENCE FLOODED SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE Press Association. DUNEDIN, To-day. A GREAT rain storm from the south struck Otago yesterday evening and large portions of the Taieri Plains are under water. At VVaipori nearly two and a-half inches of rain fell in 22 hours. The low-lying suburbs at Dunedin are also covered by much water, the trams at Kensington having to run through water axle deep. Owing to continuous rain at Lawrence 50 yards of railway embankment were washed away last night, allowing the water from Weatherstone’s Creek to break through into the town, and the main street was flooded to a depth of six feet, and a great deal of damage was done to goods in the shops. There were several narrow escapes from drowning among residents in the flooded area, who were removed in motor-lorries. It is said to be the biggest flood in the history of the town, and there is still two feet of water on the streets at noon to-day, but the weather is clearing. Railway slips are reported at Waitahuna, Craig’s Flat, and Bowler’s Creek, on the Milton-Miller’s Flat line, causing a suspension of the service to-day. The slip at Bowler’s Creek will probably take several days to clear.