LOSSES OF STOCK.

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

LOSSES OF STOCK.

REPORT FROM CHEVIOT. Still raining pretty hard,” stated a message from Cheviot this morning. The rainfall since the beginning of the present spell has amounted to 13j inches. Reports from vaious pats indicate that the district has fared badly. There, have been heavy losses of sheep on the river flats. The Waiau Bridge has gone in three spans and the bridge is impassable. The Conway Bridge was swept out to scr last night, and there are about eight feet of water over the Conway Road. Communication' is difficult; motor traffic is impossible, and many roads are blocked by slips, consequently news of other parts of the district is coming in slowly. AMBERLEY. Advices from Amberley this morning were to the effect that the' flood water is receding steadily. The Kowai River ha,- gone down a good deal, but, owing to the approach to the bridge over the Kowai at Leithfield having been washed away, the road is impassable to all traffic. It is reported that hundreds of sheep have been lost owing to the flooding of the low country round Leithfield and Amberley. ELLESMERE. Practically the whole of the Springston and Ellesmere were flooded when the Selwyn River br#ke its banks on the nor’ west side. At Ellesmere the position became so bad that the postmistress had to leave, the office. Part of the approach to the bridge on the northern side is washed .away. The extent of the damage cannot be ascertained yet as the place is absoluteJy flcoded. For a quarter of a mile on the northern side the water is four to five feet deep. An attempt to get through in a motor-car last night failed and the car had to be abandoned, witli the water rushing over the wheels. I" is considered to be the worst flood experienced for forty-five years. No losses of stock have been reported in this district yet. The settlers had warning, and the stock were removed t) places of safety.

RAINFALL TO DATE

The daily record since rain set in last Thursday is as follows :—•

ASHBURTON COUNTY.

FLOODS SUBSIDING. (Pf.r Prkss Association.) ASHBURTON. May 8. The rain has diminished to a drizzle and the floods are steadily subsiding all over the county. Passengers from Dunedin report amazing flood scenes which monopolise travellers’ attention throughout the journey. Ixmg beach and Methven reports state that the potato and onion crops are under water. Hopes are expressed that the floods will float up or destroy the grass grub which has been very destructive.

Frida v Inches .232 Saturdav ..*500 Sunday .366 Mondav . 3.396 Tuesday . . .391 Total . 4.885