Waimakariri Rises Ten Feet, After Heavy Rain.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18448, 26 April 1928, Page 4

Waimakariri Rises Ten Feet, After Heavy Rain.

FLOOD REACHES LOW COUNTRY TO-DAY; FARMERS REMOVE STOCK. HEAVY RAIN at the Bealey yesterday caused the river to rise rapidly. The flood waters reached the lower reaches of the Waimakariri to-day, and farmers were warned to remove their stock from the low-lying areas in tire vicinity of White's Bridge. There was a six-foot rise at Brown's Rock to-day. The flood waters are still confined to the riverbed, hut at 2 p.m. there was a possibility of a further rise. At 2 p.m. the river has risen 10 feet 9 inches at the construction camp belonging to the Waimakariri River Trust, and, as there was still then an hour to go till high tide, there was a likelihood of a further rise. The river was rising at the rate of about one foot an hour.

Residents of Coutt's Island are anxiously watching the river, although nothing startling has, so far, occurred. The flood is expected to be at its height at 3.30. At present the water is spreading over the swamp at the bottom end

of the island, but when this is filled it is- expected that the river will rise rapidly. All the settlers have moved their stock in acordance with the warning received this morning.