FLOODS BECOME WORSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1925, Page 10

FLOODS BECOME WORSE.

LARGE AREA UNDER WATEFU MUY'S DAMAGE IN CANTERBURY WORST FOR MANY YEARS. S’ . —— FARMERS LOSE CROPS AND STOdf By Tele^rajta—Press Assoclatlow. Christchurch, Last Night. The areas of Canterbury which wer4 flooded were increased by yesterday’# warm wind causing the sudden melting of the snow which has fallen in th# past few days. A warm <1 still prevails to-day, but not much additional ruin has fallen. The position in the Ashburton district is stated to be the worst that has bcefl experienced in 40 years. The Aehbul' ton River overflowed on to the Main South Road for the first time on record AU traffic lias been stopped to obviatl the danger of a wash-out as the roai. is a built-up one. A sudden change of temperature ly Ashburton after a heavy fall of snow resulted in the rivers rising rapidly and overflowing tiieir banks. The area under water is greater than in the De» cember flood, which was the heaviest for over 40 years. The Ashburton River -i# now overflowing the road at the traffi# bridge, which has not been the case pre* vioiisly. Many roads are Impassable. Though farmers in many oases removed their stock from the danger point#* heavy losses ate feared. The settlers of Oxford and Eyreton are emphatic in stating that they hav# not seen similar conditions for 30 years. This afternoon advice was received that Lake Forsyth was being let out, so that each hour will improve th# position at Little River, parts of which have been under four feet of water.

Railway traffic on the Midland and Southbridge lines has been interrupted and vehicular traffic by road to many parts of Canterbury is quite out of the question. Luckily, the Waimaka* riri River has not broken its banks at any place, but the overflowing of th# Eyre has been the cause of most of th# damage. North of Christchurch many bridge* or their approaches have been swept away, isotating some sections of th#' farming community. The winter sown wheat crops in th# Ashburton district have been water swept, and it is feared much stock ha# been lost. The approach to the traffic bridge over the SelWyn River at Ellesmer# has been washed away. Many residents have left their houses. Owing to a wash-out the kAdland exJpress from Gfeymouth did not get past Springfield yesterday. Two hundred yards of the line had given way. Passengers were transferred by ’bus to Annat and caught an emergency trail, arriving at Christchurch five hours behind schedule time. While heavy damage has been don* in the country Christchurch city will pave t<? pay thousands in repairs tp the streets as the result of what tho city engineer described as “extraordinary rain.” If ’tlie weather is .fin* the council employees will work all day to-morrow, although it is a half-holiday. Reports received in Ashburton froip the high country state that the river if now falling.