FLOODED AREAS IN TIMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21064, 16 June 1938, Page 11

FLOODED AREAS IN TIMARU

To the Editor ot “ The Tlmaru Herald ’’ Sir,—Again the elements show that they can hold the upper hand, given half a chance. Last week-end’s violent rain storm has again demonstrated that very often man-made culverts are much less effective than river and creek beds. A striking instance of this claim is the fact that two disastrous floods have occurred in the Waimataitai valley area in the vicinity of the culvert in a little over two years, whilst prior to the concrete culvert replacing the old creek bed no flooding of nearly so serious a nature had occurred in twenty to thirty years. On February 21, 1936. owing to heavy rain locally, and still heavier rain in the back country, coupled with heavy seas against the quite inadequate sea-door outlet, serious flooding occurred in the vicinity -of the Chinese gardens in Evans Street, and the homes in Hobbs Street. The water rose shortly after midnight, when the tide reached its height, and the swirling water and accompanying mud entered the houses to a depth of eleven inches, ruining everything in its path, including sugar, flour and other stores, carpets, linos, and countless articles usually kept in cupboards on the floor, and wallpapers. I believe the borough engineer was approached after this flood, as the residents were fearful of a repetition of the flood at any time, in perhaps worse form. His reply—and I can vouch for the authenticity of this statement—was an admission that the culvert engineered by him was good enough for ordinary rain, but could not cope with emergencies such as the heavy rains about that date. His advice was not to worry about the flood, as its re-

currence in a lifetime was most unlikely. That was on February 21, 1936. and now, on June 13, 1938, we again find nineteen inches of flood water at three o'clock in the morning surrounding our homes. These houses are not old fashioned built-on-the-ground homes, but decent workers’ dwellings on good high foundations, and in spite of this modern advantage, we are supposed to grin and bear it when flood waters enter and destroy our homes and life savings, and all because some blunder has been made in the construction of the drainage scheme. When will something be done to lessen the danger of flooding in this area? Will the Council wait till the flood waters come out the top of our windows, or someone is drowned? Sarcastic? Yes! But we, the residents of Hobbs Street and Evans Street, are fed up with the flood risk, and the value of our properties is being depreciated unless we are protected, which We consider only fair and reasonable. Every wet night for over two years now, heavy rain has kept these good folk awake, watchful for the rising waters which may, at any hour, soak and destroy all within its reach. As to the suggestions for the improvement of the drainage scheme, two factors are outstanding, and these are: (1) That the water in the culvert east of Evans Street was two feet from the top of the drain, whilst west of Evans Street the culvert was completely covered, hidden in the sea of water. This shows, of course, a fault about Evans Street, stopping the ready getaway of the flood water, causing a backing up west of Evans Street, with consequent unnecessary flooding; (2) That at the outlet the water is unable to get away at high tide because (a) of the heavy seas pounding at the door, and (b) the heavy seas depositing more shingle at the door than the pressure of the culvert water can clear. Both , can be remedied by the fitting of a more efficient set of three doors which will not be affected to such an extent by the

seas. These doors should face One north and one south on either side of the eastern extremity of the culvert, as well as the one at the end. Should the southern and eastern doors block with shingle, and would probably have occurred on June 13, the northern door would be clear to cope with the flood water. Also, these doors should receive regular attention, to ensure that the hinges do not seize up with rust and become useless. In conclusion, the residents in the area affected sincerely hope that the new Council will do something prac-

tical to combat this clanger which is ever present, and will give us the security to which we believe we are entitled—l am, etc., WEB FEET. Timaru, June 15.