FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 3 January 1918, Page 3

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH

* * (By' Telegraph—frees— frees Association.) - GEEYMOUTH, Tuesday. Heavy continuous rain .ai^.yesterday , ; resulted in floods and serious damage. A big sill) 'at Eewanui practically destroyed the large coal storage* •'•bins, 'which were so much damaged that it<as feared the remaining uprights will have to bo purfigd out and the whole rebuilt. The blacksmith shop, the fauhouse, and the electric camp cabin were soaked, and the electric lights were swept away ..■ >by a slip, Avhieh also blocked the en-, trance to f jSTo. 3 .mine, Eewanui. Luckily there were no employees about, or the result might have been more serious. Several slips occurred on the railway. Two are on the Bewanui line, and one was cleared; the other prevents through traffic on this line to-day. There are slips at Kaimata and Ngahere. At Rotomanu the line is Hooded. jt The Otira Gorge is blocked, and there is no through traffic from the West Coast to Christchurch to-day. It is hoped to have the blockages cleared to allow the usual train service to-morrow, ■ The Groymouth Jockey Club's courso 'is under water. The flood waters began to trickle over the course at 2 o'clock this morning, and at 10 o'clock 1 there was sft to 6ft of water on the | course. The horses stabled there were . got away safely last night. ' Littcl damage is reported in the town itself, but (he river in places is within two feet of the top of the wharf, and is still rising slowly. All danger of the flood lapping over the wharf seems past, although the river is a banker. Tho bins at Eewanui had a storage capacity of 4000 tons. It is expected it will be three weeks at least before this mmc is able to restart work. The river is still (2.15 p.m.) rising slowly against the falling tide. The low-lying parts of the town are now under water. Victoria Park is covered 3ft deep.

Tlic general opinion is that the river will no'i come over the wharf, as the rain ceased at an early hour this morning. Yesterday's continuous rain gave warning of the Hoods, and it is not anticipated that the loss of stock or the damage in the country will be great, Should the weather continue fine the officialH'ihave that the trots can be held to-morrow, as the track is hard .and dries 'quickly.' The Omoto racecourse is. now under eight or ten feet of water.'

v FLOOD ABA/TiNG.

GEEYMOUTH, Tuesday.

During Monday and up till early on January Ist 5 inches 8 points of rain i'cih The heavy flood in the river started'to fall nt 4 p.m., and relieved the feelings of business peojde. On the TeremnKau road the bridge has been washed away. The trotting races will be gone on with to-morrow, and the G-roymonth J'ocr key Club races on Thursday. The weather is now lino.