FLOODS IN DUNEDIN

Wairarapa Age, 20 March 1929, Page 5

FLOODS IN DUNEDIN

LOWER LEVELS INUNDATED. HOMES VACATED. RIVERS IN THE STREETS. DUNEDIN, March 19. The heaviest rain experienced here since 1923 fell to-day, with the result that several localities in the lower levels of the city were inundated. Many families had to vacate their homes. Until midday the rain was steady but not heavy, but from then on it came down in torrents and at a late hour was still falling. The south end of the city was particularly unfortunate. The bursting of the large main sewer was responsible for a rushing torrent of water, which flowed through several of the narrower streets to a depth of four to five feet, and flooded a number of residences. In Caversham, a suburb on the western side of the city, the conditions were equally bad in certain localities, since it lies at the foot of the hills pierced by a railway tunnel. It received a heavy volume of water from a creek on the other side of the hills, which overflowed its ordinary channel and ran through the tunnel. In addi-i 1 tion, the volume of water was swelled I by numerous tributaries from the hills,' and, as in the case of South Dunedin,! many residents of the suburb were flooded out. Eventually the Railway; Department blocked the tunnel and stopped the flow of water to some extent. A slip fell on the railway line near the southern end of the Caversham tunnel and an express Which left for Invercargill shortly before 5 o’clock, was held up. Later the block was removed and the train proceeded as far as Mosgiel, about eight miles south, where it was again held up on account of a flooded creek. The Prime Minister (Sir J. Ward) and several of his colleagues were on the train. It was decided to return to Dunedin, but the way was blocked by another slip south of Caversham. The Water of Leith, which traverses the north end of the city, overflowed its banks in me.ny places ond footbridges near its mouth were washed away. Most of the houses on and near the banks were invaded by water to a depth of three or four feet and many l of the residents were forced to move. | Stoppages occurred on several of the' tramway routes.

The express from Invercargill was unable to get further than. Balclutha and the north line is blocked by a heavy fall of stone. It is expected that this fall, a quarter of a mile north of Port Chalmers, will be cleared in time to let the night train through. \ As the night advanced, the floods in the north end grew worse, and at present almost the whole of the north end of the city, below King Street, and the whole of North-East Valley almost to Normanby, is under water. In the vicinity of the River Leith, near the Exhibition Ground, water was flowing in at the windows of houses and boats are being employed to remove women and children, the rescuers wading up to their waists. Tram services are stopped in the North End, but a few motor cars are getting through to Normanby. It is expected that the worst has yet to come, as it will be high tide at 11' o’clock. The total rainfall in Dunedin for the 17 hours from 10 p.m. on Monday was over two and three-quarters inches. ’lt is still raining heavily.— (P.A.) __