FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21038, 14 February 1940, Page 8

FLOODS IN SOUTHLAND

DAMAGE AT INVERCARGILL WATER INVADES MANY HOUSES STOCKS IN STORES SUFFER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday Many families were marooned in flooded homes, traffic was held up in five or six streets and merchandise was damaged in several wholesale stores when Otepuni Creek overflowed near the centre of the city this morning. A canoe was used to evacuate at least two families from houses in which the water was over a foot deep on the floors. Others left with their furniture by lorry before the flood had risen to three feet above their steps. The flooding which followed weeks of almost continuous rain, is stated to be the worst in that locality within living memory. The flood waters, which turned the newly-formed Marist cricket ground into a lake three feet deep, were too much for the arches of the small bridges across Elies Road and the water spread out over most of No. 2 public gardens and blocked thstreets for a distance of up to eight chains, through which a few lorries and trams aquaplaned their careful way. Rail Service Disorganised The early morning express and the usual goods trains had to travel through nearly a mile of water, which was particularly deep at level crossings. The engines created heavy waves which washed against the walls of factories and houses along the route. A train to Tokanui was unable to get through last night and returned to Invercargill after having been held up between Titiroa and Waimahaka. Houses in Eye Street appear to have been most seriously affected. This morning four feet of water covered the floors of several houses from which the occupants were taken by lorries, along with portions of their furniture. Floods practically cut off the southern part of Invercargill and many children were unable to get to school. St. Catherne’s Convent in Eye Stre>t was completely surrounded and was closed for the day. A crowd of country pupils coming in by train to attend the Southland Boys’ High School and the Technical College alighted at the Ellis Road siding to .find themselves marooned in a waste of brown waters. Warehouses Invaded Heavy stocks of grain and other produce lying in stores abutting on Otepuni Creek were damaged by water, which in some cases was over a foot deep. A fire engine was employed pumping out the basement of one of the stores. This is the highest rainfall ever recorded for 48 hours, being 3.69 inches. The previous record in October, 1913, was 2.18 inches in the same period. February is usually the driest month of the year, the average rainfall for a period of years being 3.51 inches, but the total registered up to 9 o'clock this morning was 9.17 inches*