FLOODS BLOCK ROADS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1935, Page 7

FLOODS BLOCK ROADS

CANTERBURY DOWNPOUR HEAVY MORTALITY IN LAMBING. CREEKS OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS. SNOW ON THE HIGHER LEVELS. By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. , The flooding of creeks after two days heavy rain has blocked the main road to Kaikoura and the inland route from Waiau to Kaikoura, while the road west from Christchurch has been rendered impassable by snow on Porter’s Pass. Six inches of rain fell at Waiau m the 24 hours ended at 5 a.m. to-day. All rivers and creeks north of that district are in high flood. Several big slips are reported in the hills behind Waiau. The rainfall appears to have been heaviest from Waipara northwaids. n the Waipara area the fall has been the heaviest since 1923, and heavy lambing mortality is feared. As a precaution stock has been moved to higher ground. Service cars have been held up at Stoney creek, on the road to Kaikoura, but the possibility of a complete hold-up has been overcome by the use of a dray as a transport over the creek. The Automobile Association reported this morning that on the way to Hororata the Selwyn River and the Waireka creek were in fioojl. The road to Coalgate through Darfield was flooded by Hawkins River. A service car manager stated that floods were covering the roads near Parnassus and Kaikoura and, in addition to the Stoney 'creek, considerable anxiety was being caused by the Ferniehurst crossing, two miles north of Hawkeswood station. SLIPS AND WASHOUTS INCONVENIENCE NOT SERIOUS. DELAY CAUSED TO SHIPPING. Wellington, Last Night. Wellington endured almost continuous rain to-day with a constant southerly gale, which reached the maximum velocity of 62 miles per hour. There was heavy rainfall throughout the province, but roads remained in surprisingly good order. A 200 yards slip on the Paekakariki hill soon had a track cut round it, and vehicles were also able to negotiate a section of road half a mile south of Eketahuna, which slipped away. Conditions are severe at National Park,, there being six inches of snow on the road leading from the Chateau. There were wash-outs on the Hutt railway line between Ngahauranga and Petone, and these put the inward line out of commission, resulting in a slight, delay to- suburban services. The storm has delayed the sailing of. the Rangitane for Napier till to-morrow afternoon and the departure of the Maui Pomare for Niue and Samoa was postponed till the morning on account of the heavy sea running outside the heads. Several coastal vessels were also delayed.