SCENES AT KAIAPOI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17035, 8 May 1923, Page 7

SCENES AT KAIAPOI.

PART OF TOWN FLOODED. FAMILIES FLEE FROM HOMES. A " Star ” reporter who made a trip in one of Curran’s Kaikoura Service ('a i s morning from Christchurch to Wnikuku. the furthermost point that could be reached on the Main North l'oad, found that whereas the flood waters were receding on the Christchurch fide oi Kaiapoi, the conditions in Kaiapoi itsell arid further north wore extremely At half-past ton o’clock, the north hi a net i of the Waiinakariri. which had risen four feet above the highest mark reached during the spring tides, was rapidly encroaching on the protecting bank on the/outh side, and fears were e> pressed that a terrible flood would break through the bank at any moment and carry away the houses and business premises m that portion of the town. As the flood tore into the bank between the swing bridge and the main bridge feverish efforts were being made to divert the water into the centre of the rner, trees were rapidly cut down and sand 1 ags placed in position to «trengt.hen the bank and resist the onslaught of the angry torrent. Raven Street, which runs parallel with the river at this point was cover--eu with a sheet of water to a depth of fully four feet, in-places, and all the i rnntJsjzps ..oi the houses and business piemises pvere blocked. The front of the Working Men’s Club was a sheet of water which extended right into the building. Looking down Black Street, the expanse of water < ould be seen right along the school, v hieh bad to be closed on account of its inaccessibility. All around this portion of the town the streets were badly flooded. At the Post Office corner, on th.> north side of the river the water ex tended almost right across, the road, but further along in the direction or the woollen mills the flood was at its worst. Just above the swing bridge, a large number of willing workers were filling sand bags, with which they built

a protecting wall across the road, to keep the flood from rushing through among the houses. In the vicinity of the mills the •damage was already done. Here the houses were comparatively low-lying and the water had risen to such an extent that the occupants had had no alternative but to desert them. Tile 'rater in some cases had almost reached the .eaves of the houses and at half-past eleven o’clock more houses were being deserted. The trail of refugees from their wrecked homes was a most patheti sight. Several families carrying bundles containing their most precious belongbigs and with the younger children ?n their father’s arms, were seen making their way to temporary shelters, while a number of drays and carts were being used to recover as much of the heavier belongings that could still he reached. The scene was reminiscent of the flight of the refugees in France and Belgium, and in some respects much worse, because of the torrential rain that was falling incessantly. Masses of wreckage were piled about in many places and numerous fowlhr uses floated about in the water, while the fowls could he seen perched in trees, on the highest ulaeos that could be reached. The only live stock that seemed io he enjoying the flood were the ducks, but the other live stock had a had time. A dejected looking pig. which had apparently been flooded out of its home, wandered about the road, but its owner could not be found. DAMAGE TO WnOLLKX MILLS, Serious damage was done at the woollen mills which were flooded to a depth of about two feet over practically the whole of the buildings V\ ork at the mills could not. in consequence of the flood, proceed to-day, and the employees, many of whom were rendered homeless. occupied themselves in the rescue work. AT WAIKUKU. From Kaiapoi to Wuikuku the roadside was flooded for a considerable dis-

lance and a number of homes were stir rounded by water. A few miles north of Kaiapoi there was a. wide expanse of water on both sides of the road. hut the road was si ill negotiable. At Wa-ikuku ton nsliip the flood had receded slightly since yesterday. The Ripple Creek, a few hundred yards lurther along the road, was in heavy flood, and the road was entirely blocked to motor traffic. The bridge across the creek was completely out of sight and the height of the water above the road was so great that it was absolutely unsafe for motor-cars to attempt to proceed through it. WOOLLEN FACTORY CLOSED. Flood waters entered the Kaiapoi Woollen Company’s mill last night and operations have been suspender!. The mill will probably be closed for a week.