In some parts it eased off about the middle of the day yesterday, but towards evening it recommenced, and the outlook is anything but bright. Taieri farmers are again heavy sufferers, although their losses of livestock are not likely to be heavy, as the timely warning given by Mr W. D. Mason and others up-country was promptly acted upon.
The rainfall registered on the Leith watershed up till 7 p.m. yesterday was 3¼ in. The stream, which was very high yesterday morning, receded about midday, but commenced to rise again in the afternoon. The gauge at the pumping station, Musselburgh, showed that up till 9 a.m. yesterday 1.350in of rain had fallen, while the reading at 11.30 o'clock last evening disclosed the fact that another 1.5in had fallen, thus making the total since Tuesday 2.850in.
Up till 9 o'clock last evening the total rainfall at Waipori approximated 1½in. The water going over the weir was at the 3ft 6in level at latest advices, and no perceptible rise had taken place at the power station. During last flood the water at the weir was 12ft high.
Very little rain fell last night. It is feared that there will be a heavy mortality among lambs in the inland districts, where lambing is now general, as the temperature has fallen, and the conditions do not favour a cessation of rain.
The position at Balclutha is causing some little anxiety, as the Molyneux was reported at 5 p.m. yesterday to be 15ft above the normal level. This abnormal rise is due principally to the warm winds of Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday having melted the snow up-country.
The rain, which appears to have been, if anything, heaviest in the watershed of that river, has, of course, accentuated the trouble, and threatened the town of Balclutha. Before nightfall the Domain was well covered with water, and the river was rising rapidly. The main road through Clarksville was submerged early in the afternoon to a depth of about 4ft in one place, and traffic was consequently suspended.
Returning soldiers
An inhospitable welcome, so far as the weather was concerned, awaited the detachment of Otago and Southland soldiers who arrived in Dunedin last evening from the north.
The men themselves were, however, not concerned with the nature of the night; they were too glad to be home again and to see once more the familiar faces of relatives and friends and to receive their hearty handshakes and the warm embraces.
The number of returned men was about 36, and there were no cot cases among them, all the men being able to move about freely without assistance. In fact, the majority of them seemed to be remarkably well and in good spirits. They were portion of the draft that arrived in Auckland a few days ago, and were met on arrival by Lieutenant-colonel Cowie-Nichols, Majors Cooper and Hickey, and Captain Dobson, having come down to Dunedin in charge of Sergeant-major Thompson.
No time was wasted at the station, and within a very short period the local men were placed in motor cars provided by the Otago Motor Club and taken to their homes.
There were about 17 men for Central Otago and the south, and the same course was followed with those who had friends' places to go to, while the remainder were billeted at the Leviathan Hotel by the defence authorities.
- ODT, 27.9.1917.
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