AN INLAND SEA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17037, 10 May 1923, Page 6

AN INLAND SEA.

VIEW FROM KAIAPOI. Tli© scene from the top of the water Lower,at the woollen mills yesterday was one of utter desolation. Although the. level of the water had gone- down fully two feet, rJie expanse of flooded country in the direction of Rangiora extended as far a.s .the eye could «ee. The Gain and Rangiora roads were still covered with a great depth of water, but the dividing fences, which were hidden from view the previous day, could be seen again. Several sheds and Are wheat sheaf stacks on Air H. AlMntosh’s property stood out clearly in the great expanse of water, hut the land itself was completely covered. I he (’am River, which normally contains only a small volume of water, wa-s srili in. high flood, but subsiding steadily. NOTES. Yesterday morning a ballast train was taken from Kaiapoi to Rangiora, and tine line wbr reported to be «af© for passenger traffic. Consequently

! the 12 -noon and the 5.15 p.m. trains from Christ Church proceeded through | to Rangiora. Special precautions were, ; however, taken between Kaiapoi and j■’South brook, the speed of the trains ; being reduced to ten mile* an hour. Although no oases of distress caused ! by th© flood ar© known to exist in ; Kaiapoi, there were many pathetic I scenes during the rescue operations, j In one case a woman with a baby a I week old was moved during Tuesday morning from Akaroa Street to Oarew j Street, and Inter in the day had to be moved again to another place. ■ There were also cases of people who i refused to leave their homes, although ! tb© flood was rising rapidly, and it was only after much persuasion that made to realise the seriousness of the position. The demand for gum boots continued throughout yesterday, and additional supplies were obtained from Christchurch to meet the rush. One firm sold about six dozen pairs of thigh hoots and three dozen knee boot®, and other Kaiapoi firms also sold large numbers. A Christchurch firm which sent a representative with a largo stock of gum boots to Kaiapoi on Tuesday. did very good business. Air .T. Stevenson, Flaxton, was a heavy loser by the floods, a stud ram valued at 40 guineas, and 134 stud Southdown ewes, valued at 8 or 9 guineas each, having been drowned. There were over 600 sheep in the flooded fields, but by strenuous effort© of Mr Stevenson, an employee and neighbour, the remainder were saved, although six of the ewes ar© in a very weak state and may succumb. The flood water flowed over the farm so unexpectedly and rose so rapidly that there was no chance of removing the sheep to higher ground. It. is reported that a settler at Saltwater Greek has lost between ninety and a hundred head of cattle through the flood. The Wakatu arrived from Kaikoura shortly after ten o’clock last night, and reported having had a good passage. The people of Kaikoura welcomed her arrival, as she was the only source of communication between Christchurch and Kaikoura. Th© vessel brought six passengers..