SEVERE STORM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21062, 14 June 1938, Page 12

SEVERE STORM

Wintry Weather Prevails Wind and Rain Sweep District Further Snow at Tekapo The mildness of the winter was brought to a sudden end during the week-end when a biting southerly wind brought driving rain and a low temperature. Warm mufflers and heavy overcoats were freely commissioned and the coalman was in keen demand. Conditions showed little improvement yesterday when wind and rain swept the district and a fierce sea surged along the coast. Although the sun made a brave attempt to break through, it was soon forced into retreat by the heavy clouds from the south which sped on their watery way to the accompaniment of a chilling wind. Up till a late hour at night driving rain lashed the countryside, and although the roads were clear and no damage was reported, it was felt that it needed little more rain before hold-ups might be expected. Water on Main Hoad A reporter of “The ' r imaru Herald’’ who drove over the main road as far as Temuka encountered no water on the highway at midnight, although on loulying stretches, particularly on the Washdyke Flat and at the foot of the Showgrounds hill, large sheets of water had banked up to the edge of the bitumen. On the return trip half an hour later, however, the main road was submerged to a depth of four inches at the southern end of Washdyke Flat, and with the storm showing little signs of : bating, heavier flooding seemed imminent. On either side of the road, adjacent property was submerged under surface water, wh.ch in places came through the fences to encroach on the roadway. Although both were carrying exceptionally large volumes of water, there appeared to be little likelihood of flooding from the Opihi and Temuka rivers early this morning, but high water was due at 3 o’clock, and a considerable backing up could be expected. Saltwater Creek appeared to be suffering more seriously than the rest of the borough. About midnight, the creek was running a banker with the water lapping the decking of the main road bridge. While at that time there was no water on the highway, a repetition of the floods experienced last month threatened. Practically all property between the hotel and the Chinese gardens was submerged, and the area extending from the southern stop-bank of the creek to Smith’s hill was literally a sea of water. Similar conditions existed on the opposite side of the road, -.ater a foot deep covering the paddocks flanking the Otipua road, although the highway itself was. at that time, clear. The lawns and gardens of houses in the vicinity of the bus terminus at Saltwater Creek were also inundated, a sheet of water covering the western footpath and extending some yards out on to the bitumen. Fences Flattened Its foundations undermined by the excessive rain, the Bft iron fence on the Church Street frontage of Fraser Park was flattened in the strong wind last night. From the main entrance for about 50 yards in the direction of town the heavy iron was blown out on to the footpath. A picket fence fronting a residence at the south end of Craigie Avenue also was torn out and flattened across the footpath. In many homes last night, cricket test broadcasts were interrupted when insecure aerial masts proved unequal to the force of the wind, some snapping off while others carted ever from their sodden foundations. Th? airport carried a fair amount of surface water, but there was no flooding. The channels were carrying .1 large volume of water and the outlet to the sea operated satisfactorily. The golf links and sports grounds which had scarcely recovered from the phenomenal April rainfall, were again drenched and conditions will be unfavourable for some time. The rain was unfortunate for the farmer who was busy with his wheat sowing and will further hamper an already late and trying season for th wheatgrower. More Snow at Tekapo Another fall on Sunday night and yesterday morning, raised the depth of snow at Tekapo to between nine inches and one foot. Snow extended from the top of Burke’s Pass to Simon’s Pass. There was no snow at Pukaki, which had only one inch of rain during the change. At Clayton Station, there were two inches of snow in the morning, and the ground was white on parts of Sherwood Downs. Further rain, and no snow, fell in Fairlie, but last night sleet was falling intermittently between Fairlie and Timaru. The rainfall, registered on Mr B. R. Macdonald’s gauge at “Waitui,” Geraldine, totalled 3.04 inches for the 72 hours ended at 9 a.m. yesterday. The readings for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. during the last three days were as follow:—Saturday, 67 points; Sunday, 2.5 inches; and yesterday, 32 points; total 3.04 in. Although the rivers were running high on Sunday no damage has been reported throughout the Geraldine County. “Conditions on the main south road and on some of the by-roads round Hunter were the worst I have seen for years,” said a motorist to a representative of “The Timaru Herald” yesterday. The speaker set out early on Saturday morning to go south, and although it was raining heavily, he experienced no trouble until passing Pareora. From this point on every dip in the road carried a fair depth of water, and he had the greatest difficulty in getting through. On a by-road at Otaio over

which he had to travel about two miles, he plunged through six creeks which were miniature torrents. “ I have known these creeks for many years, and I have never seen them come up so quickly." Cars Held Up A number of cars were held up on the road, and in many cases the trouble was due to drivers getting off the crown of the road into the deep water on the sides. The speaker had an unenviable experience during the day. So much water got into the engine that he had to clean it out completely. The battery ran down and it was necessary to use the starting handle. In order to preserve the battery, the driver resorted to driving with his lights dimmed, but it was then impossible to see. so heavy was the rain. Conditions for motoring during the storm were most unsatisfactory, and the rain fell so heavily that the headlight effects gave the appearance of underwater driving. The strong wind carrying the water along the roadway changed the sensation to one of driving over flood waters. Often the driver would put his foot on the brake under the impression that he was driving into a deep stream. The gale twisted and turned the heavy rain pelting on to the bitumen, as if the highway were a surging flood. Visibility, particularly when driving into the storm, was often practically nil. and the velocity of the gale was so fierce that difficulty was experienced in keeping the car on a straight course. FORCED BACK CONDITIONS TOO SEVERE FOR AIR LINER By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. Forced to turn back because of bad weather, the southbound liner of the Union Airways could not fly beyond Timaru on her trip to Dunedin from Christchurch this afternoon, and returned to Wigram about 5 o’clock. The liner was delayed by head winds earlier in the day and reached Christchurch from the north an hour and a half behind schedule. Due at 1 p.m. the liner did not arrive until about 2.30 p.m. and left for Dunedin shortly afterwards. As the weather was such that it could not make Dunedin, it turned back at Timr j. When heading south into the gale the ground speed was only 60 miles an hour. There were only two passengers for Dunedin. Aided by a following wind, the northbound liner reached Christchurch half an hour early. FORESHORE EROSION HEAVY DAMAGE AT OAMARU Bj Telegraph—Press Association OAMARU. June 13. As a result ol the battering of tremendous seas a great part of the foreshore protection work carried out by the Railway Department at Oamaru during the past year has been practically nullified. For 200 yards hardly one of the many hundreds of tons of big rocks remain. Near the gasworks the stones have subsided, and will not effectively prevent further erosion. To-day more huge seas are doing further damage. The damage so far Represents thousands of pounds. POUNDING SEAS HUTT RAILWAY SUFFERS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. June 13. The Petone seafront, the Hutt Road and the east harbour bays received the full force of to-day’s gale. At Koro Koro this morning a small car driven by a school teacher. Miss Allen, with three children as passengers, was blown over and down a 30ft bank in Singer’s Road at a point where there is a bad wind-pocket. No one was hurt. Previouly at the same place the top of a lorry has been twice blown off. The railway embankment running alongside the sea and the main Hutt Road was undermined by pounding seas which, dashing on to the rocks and protective concrete formation, threw spray 30 to 40 feet in the air and across the Hutt Road where motorists proceeding against the wind had their windscreens thickly coated with salt spray. As a result of sea damage to the embankment one set of rails was not used and the Inner track carried all the trains. In the last year thousands of tons of concrete blocks have been placed in position to reinforce the embankment. The east harbour road was awash at Point Howard between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m Driftwood, boulders and beach shingle were tossed up on to the road

at all exposed points, and gangs were employed in the late afternoon clearing the highway to Eastbourne. The deposits of shingle and sand were so extensive in parts as to obliterate all signs of there being the bitumenised road surface. In parts waves were breaking over the road. The ferry service was suspended during the day and did not resume until 4 p.m The ferries could not berth at Rona Bay. Passengers for there went on to Day’s Bay. Parts of the sea wall were washed out at Eastbourne and at Muritai.