HEAVY FALLS AT FAIRLIE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20931, 10 January 1938, Page 6

HEAVY FALLS AT FAIRLIE

LAKE TEKAPO HIGH At "Lambrook,” Fairlie, up to 5.30 last evening, 2.69 inches of rain had been recorded, making the total for January 3.53. On Friday afternoon, when the rain started, 78 points fell. For December and January, the rainfall has been brought up to 9.10 inches, an amount that is not far short of half the total for last year. Albury, according to Mr F. J. Davison’s recording, had 2.25 inches up to 5 p.m., bringing January’s rainfall up to 3 inches.

Late yesterday afternoon, Lake Tekapo had reached its highest level for years, and was more than three feet above normal. The measurement at 9.30 a.m., was 2ft loin. When it is remembered that the lake is 32 square miles in area, and is drained by a large river, the extent of the rainfall in the back country is evident. Tekapo station homestead, which is on the lake shore, was surrounded by water. At 9.30 a.m., the rainfall recording was 1.60 inches, and with rain still falling heavily last night, the total was expected to be well over two inches. On Saturday night throughout the Mackenzie County the weather cleared for frost, and there was hot sunshine yesterday morning. By 11 o’clock in Fairlie, however, heavy rain had resumed. The lull allowed flooded rivers and creeks to fall, but the position is influenced by the fact that the ground is soaked with water and will hold no more; as a result, a continuance of the rain will probably promote a serious flood. Rivers Rise Rapidly Rivers and creeks were at their highest level on Saturday night, but last night they were again rising rapidly. The Ribbonwood creek was running around the lower bridge at Sherwood Downs. The Opihi river reached its highest level for a number of years, and carried more water than either the North or South Opuha. For a time on Saturday the bridge at Kimbell was threatened, and water was running around the north approach. All the main roads were still open yesterday afternoon, but a stream near the Kimbell Hotel threatened to block the Hermitage highway, and another at Bain’s corner had been over the road, and rose 18 inches in an hour. An interesting point was that a few chains above a dirty flooded stream at Kimbell the Three Springs stream was running clear. Up to last night, the county engineer (Mr D. Jeune) stated that minor damage had been general throughout the district, but if the rain continued all night, serious consequences would probably result. He had closed Bracken’s bridge at Albury as a safety measure. Employees of the Council were busy in an effort to keep roads open. About 7.30 last night, the clouds lifted sufficiently to show a coating of snow on the ranges. The effects of the additional rain were evident at Winscombe, where the main road was covered to a depth of about two feet for several chains. A flooded stream at Cricklewood was fortunately confined to a bridge. The Tengawai river was exceptionally high, and below the bridge on the main road was angrily tearing into a bank of farm land. Below Albury, creeks were not so high, but a stream was crossing the road at Ma Waro.