HEAVY FLOODING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21063, 15 June 1938, Page 8

HEAVY FLOODING

Motor Traffic Held Up CHINESE GARDENS SUFFER Concrete Wall Collapses Commencing on Friday night, a south-easterly rain lashed South Canterbury until yesterday afternoon, when the sun shone fitfully. Up till 9 o’clock yesterday morning, the total fall was 3.46 inches in Timaru, but in some parts of the district the registration was even heavier. The countryside received such a thorough soaking a short time ago that the ground in the interval had not dried out very much, and as a result very little of the present visitation was absorbed. Early on Saturday morning large areas of surface water were to be seen round the district, and when no break came, trouble was expected In many quarters. To make matters worse, a heavy sea was running on the coast, with a result that tidal creeks backed up and overflowed on to adjacent country. Small streams which generally present no difficulties were soon turned into raging torrents, and traffic was dislocated over a much wider area than has been the case for a long time past. Yesterday morning the sea abated considerably and tidal creeks were then able to discharge a considerable volume of water. Before this came about, however, a considerable amount of damage was done. Market Gardens Flooded Among the chief sufferers were the Chinese market gardeners at Saltwater Creek. Some weeks ago their gardens and living quarters were inundated when the Otipua stream banked up and overflowed above the bridge on the main road. Practically all the crops were ruined and in addition the Chinese lost about three tons of chaff which was used to feed their horses. In the early hours of yesterday morning the stream again overflowed, and the water rushed back across the main road, through the living quarters and storage sheds and again completely submerged the gardens. A few weeks ago crops which had been put in in preparation for the spring were lost, and after waiting two weeks for the ground to dry, the Chinese heavily manured the ground and resowed the crops. These were just beginning to show through last week, and now the crops will be ruined for a second time. In addition to the crops in the ground, the Chinese have lost goodly quantities of pumpkins, marrows and other vegetables, and their store of chaff and manure has again been damaged. The water rose to a height of more than two feet in the store rooms and living quarters, and altogether the Chinese spent an anxious night. One Chinese told a representative of “The Timaru Herald" yesterday that it was Impossible to stand up at the gateway leading to the gardens on account of the strong current. There was a considerable volume of surface water on the airport yesterday morning owing largely to the blocking of the outlet in the north-east corner. The recently constructed outlet worked effectively when the tide was low, the water rushing out at a tremendous rate. It was at high tide that the stream backed up and flooded the area above the bridge on the main road. At Saltwater Creek a large number of cars were held up yesterday morning, the smaller makes being unable to get through for some hours.

Deep Water at Morven The most serious blockage to traffic occurred below Morven, where the water was exceptionally deep. This flooding was apparently due to the inability of the Elephant Hill Creek to cope with the fall in the back country. Stevenson's Ford, between St. Andrews and Pareora. was also a source of trouble, and a Waimate resident who came into Timaru yesterday stated that twice the water swept through his car, and he had t< open both doors to let it through. On the northern side of Timaru trouble was experienced at the Washdyke bridge, where the road was flooded for some distance, and small cars were unable to get through. Black's Creek at Kakahu was impassable. The school bus was unable to progress beyond this point and so a number of children attending the Hilton School were obliged to accept a holiday. At Sharp's bridge at Hilton the road was badly scoured. A washout was also reported at Williams’ near the Maori I’a at Arowhenua, and one motorist, on reaching this point, was forced to proceed up a back road as far as Winchester before he could get on to the main road again. AU the creeks in the Hilton and Clandeboye districts were reported to be considerably swollen but motor traffic was not Interrupted. Shipping Resumes The Breeze, which remained in port over Monday night on account of the heavy sea running outside, sailed early yesterday afternoon. The vessel was tossed about considerably after she got away from the shelter cf the Extension, and for a period she headed into the southerly sea and ther turned north. The Waiana made a good run up the coast, however, and berthed comfortably yesterday afternoon. Wall Collapses There was a considerable quantity of water across Evans Street, in the vicinity of Walton’s store, in the early hours of yesterday morning and at one stage the water was lapping the top of the door-step. The low-lying area behind the store was completely submerged. A little north of the store a concrete wall collapsed, and the property owner will be facet’ with a fair amount of expense to repair the damage.