BIG FLOOD IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 16639, 7 August 1930, Page 8

BIG FLOOD IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Heathcote Overflows. HOUSES EVACUATED. (Special to Qie "Herald.") CHRISTCHURCH, August 6. With the Heathcote River overflowing its banks from Cashmere to the estuary, and the Avon higher than it has been for a great many years, Christchurch experienced one of the worst floods in its history to-day. The Heathcote River was at its worst about noon, when at Radley Bridge it was over a hundred yards wide. The overflowing of the Heathcote. which commenced last evening and become worse through the night, caused the worst flooding in the history of Beckenham, Opawa and Woolston. Throughout almost the whole length of its course from Cashmere to the sea, the river topped its banks and surrounded the low-lying country around. In Beckenham, particularly in Western Terrace, and in parts of Opawa, homes were made uninhabitable, and were evacuated. The water in some instances was lapping to the windows of the houses. It was impossible for traffic to move along any of the low-lying riverside roads, over which a torrent several feet deep in places is now flowing. This mo ning, the water was still rising, and houses whose floors were then still above water had to be evacuated before nightfall. No reliable estimate can yet be formed as to the number of houses whose inmates have had to seek shelter elsewhere, but in the lower portions of Beckenham alone the total is considerable. Eastern Terrace has suffered badly in places. Further down the river, in the vicinity of the bridge at the Opawa tram terminus, many acres of land have been inundated. Many houses on the banks of the Heathcote, where it forms an elbow at ; the Radley bridge near Ferry Road, were flooded, and many families were taken out by boat and dray this morning. It was expected that the position there would become much worse when the tide rose this afternoon.

A big area was flooded in the neighbourhood of the Ferry Road, which is the only street in the area that has not become a lake from end to end. With a change in the wind and a fallen tide the erosion of the sand hills at Sumner ceased this morning. Nearly a quarter of a mile of Aid win’s Road. Linwood, is under a foot of water, which surrounds the houses near Linwood Park and stretches along Marlborough Street. A similar banking-up had taken place along Dudley Creek in St. Albans. Four new bungalows along Shirley Road, between Westminster Street and Warrington Street, were surrounded by water. Two of them are unoccupied. Behind them were acres of rural land under water. Several schools in Christchurch, including Woolston and Opawa, were closed to-day. and almost without exception attendances were greatly depleted.

The Christchurch Boys’ High School closed at noon. The attendance this morning was a small one, and there is a great amount of water lying about the grounds. Round the Woolston district the flood scenes were described by old residents as unequalled by anything that has occurred in the last quarter century. Streets were flooded, water channels and mains were taxed beyond capacity, and many houses were in danger of being flooded out. Adjacent to the Heathcote River many paddocks w T ere inundated, and steps had to be taken to move stock to higher levels. The scene in the Radley district beggars description. There the swollen Heathcote, a dirty stream of fast-mov-ing water, flowed over its banks on the Clarendon Terrace side, about midnight, and to-day the gravest anxiety was felt for the safety of the Radley Street Bridge and the people living in the houses along the terrace. Water is lying a foot deep round the railway station and in parts of the township at Little River. No damage, however, was done and the water had not invaded the houses. The flood waters gradually subsided and had fallen three inches up to 11 a.m., today.

At many bungalows in St. Albaps w r ater was lapping the doorsteps. In the locality bounded by Westminster Street, Shirley Road and Warrington Street the flooded condition of Dudley Creek banked up the water, leaving it no means of escape until the creek subsidies. Four new bungalows along Shirley Road were surrounded by nearly a foot of water. Two of the bungalows are unoccupied. Lakes of anything up to an acre in extent were formed in Spence, Archer, and Thornton Streets, where the water covers the front lawns and gardens. Flockton Street is a lake. In Kensington Avenue, where much trouble was experienced with the sewer works last winter, water is right across the load. English Park had a layer of water, and the children’s playground at St. Albans Park will not be available for use for some time. Other minor lakes were formed through the blockage of side channels. Torrential rain commenced last evening at Lyttelton and continued throughout the night. Rain fell even more heavily throughout the forenoon and there were scores of waterfalls from the surrounding hills finding their way into the harbour. Particularly prominent were two on the south shore near Diamond Harbour. The rainfall is considered to be the heaviest in twenty years. It is worse than the rainfall of 1925, when much damage was done in the borough by slips and the washing-out of roads. The only damage reported this morning was the caving in of a 35 feet brick wall at the residence of Mr T. Maher, in Cunningham Terrace, and a small clay slip in Cressy Terrace. Water broke through from the hills on the property of Mr H. Sinclair in Cornwall Road and did considerable damage to Mr H. Blackler’s property, just below.

During the afternoon the weather cleared, and at four o’clock the Heathcote had receded about an inch and a half.

City Council rescue parties evacuated 24 families but quite a number of others left their homes in boats and drays provided by private citizens. Most of the evacuated families were cared for by neighbours or friends, a few being given shelter by public institutions.

The water was over four feet deep around some of the houses in Beckenham and Woolston, and considerable damage was done to the contents in many cases. The floods also played havoc with the streets that have not been reconstructed in permanent material, and High Street is in a deplorable condition, with deep scours along the tram tracks. Quite a number of shops were cut off from the road by the floods. The rainfall was the heaviest that has been experienced in Christchurch since 1925, but the damage done was far more extensive than on that

occasion. So far 2.999in. has fallen—--I.6in. in the last 24 hours. On April 15 and 16, 1925, s.lin. of rain fell, 4.7

inches coming down on the 16th. Compared with a fall like that, this one seems comparatively small. The previous heaviest fall that there has been this year was that of January 14 and 15, when just over 2in. fell. The rainfall records this year have so far been behind those of 1929. but the rain will need to keep on only a little longer now to bring them equal. At 9 a.m. to-day there had been 16.2 inches this year, while at the corresponding date last year there had been 16.43 inches.

Prospects to-night were that the rain would cease, and everywhere the floods *

were subsiding, as far as the drains and rivers could take away the water. There were many absentees from business places, on account of people being unable to leave their homes.

In more than one house along Clarendon Terrace. Radley, all mDvable furniture, such as ~arpets, chaiis and bedding was stacked upon the tables, to guard it against a further advance of the waters, and in every home preparations were made for evacuation if it should be necessary. Anxiety was felt for those marooned in their homes, and thorough preparation were made for removing them should the necessity arise. A boat was procured and held in readiness if the water should rise further. In two of the houses were invalids confined to their beds, and it was anticipated that the problem of removing these would be a serious one. as careful handling would be necessary and the exposure of sick people to the wind and rain would be dangerous. Residents offered every help to their less fortunate neighbours and accommodation for the potential refugees was arranged in nearby houses. At about 10 o’clock this morning the invalids in their beds were about six inches above the water level. This afternoon they were taken from their home to the hospital. The water was described by old residents as a foot higher than the level in 1925, and one man said that there was flood water to-day where there was none in 1906. The water was rising about an inch an hour. The taking of provisions to the stranded householders was a difficult task. Early in the morning a man wearing only a small pair of trunks, and smothered in greese as a protection against the cold

swam and waded alternately according to the depths of the water to the assistance of those requiring help. Later men in high boots and overcoats carried groceries, meat and milk to the homes that were cut off. In places the water was so deep that it rose over the high boots of the men. Alarm was felt for the safety of the Radley Street Bridge, now in a state of half-completion. Just above it is a temporary footbridge carrying a sewer and water pipes, and this morning driftwood was piled high against it. Fears were entertained that the pressure of the banked up water, held back by th driftwood, would carry the bridge away or smash the pipes, and hurried measures for clearing the obstructions were taken. The footbridge was pushed j t of its alignment slightly, but not sufficiently to be serious before the driftwood was cleared. WEATHER NOW CLEAR. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, August 6. The weather cleared at about four o’clock this afternoon. The skies are now clear, and the night is frosty. The floods had begun to recede even before the weather cleared. It was feared that high tide at three o’clock this afternoon might back up the waters, causing more damage, but the tide passed without danger. The damage will not be calamitous, but will be considerable. No service cars got through to Akaroa to-day owing to Lake Forsyth having overflowed the road. The main south road was flooded at one or two points, but the service cars got through to time.