FLOODS IN SOUTH

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 14

FLOODS IN SOUTH

! DAMAGE AT INVERCARGILL l WATER INVADES MANY HOUSES STOCKS IN STORES SUFFER j | (By Telegraph.—Press Association) Elderly People Rescued < The police were advised about nine o'clock of three elderly persons who were unable to leave their flooded houses and constables were sent to rescue them. An elderly couple was j brought out with the assistance of the police and two of the boys of I the Marist School who were using a canoe. An elderly invalid was also taken from her bed. which was lapped by water, and brought out to shelter. For four blocks public gardens ; were completely inundated with j flood water and they presented a i desolate aopearance. The Southland | Bowling Club will be a heavy loser, as water entered its pavilion and reached almost to the window sills. I The green was under about 3ft. of water. Two Invercargill schools have had to be closed and will probably remain closed for several days. At St. Catherine’s Convent portions of the grounds were covered to a depth of 7ft. and the school building and hostel were isolated. The school will be closed until the flood recedes, but it is hoped to re-open it on Friday. A cellar containing boilers at the Southland Girls’ High School was flooded and it was decided to close the school for the rest of the week. The weather is still unsettled and cold.

DAMAGE TO WOOL MANURE ALSO SUFFERS (Bv Telegraph.—rress Association) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday Serious loss occurred in the wool store of J. G. Ward and Company, Limited, Liddell Street, where "a large quantity of wool, other produce and manures was damaged by flood water, which invaded the store to a depth of about 18in. to-day. Throughout the day a strenuous battle was fought with the flood, the pumping plant of the main city fire engine being utilised to keep down the level of the water and prevent its spread to another portion of the store, where many hundreds of bales of wool were stacked in readiness for the second Invercargill appraisal, which begins on Friday. Nothing could be done to prevent the lower bales being soaked and the water advanced to more than half the height of bales laid on their sides. The wool will be dried out after the flood recedes, but its value will no doubt be affected by its immersion in water impregnated with silt. Serious loss will be suffered through water soaking many bags in the stacks of manure. The lower three bags in the stacks were completely soaked and the manure will be ruined unless it can be reground after it dries out and returns to rock form.