Flooding Follows Heavy Rain

The exceptionally heavy rainfall over Nelson on November 21 (3½ inches) sent water levels in rivers and creeks rising. In Nelson city itself the Maltai, swollen by extremely heavy falls in the watershed, overflowed its banks in many parts of the town and caused all sorts of problems before it fell just as rapidly as it rose. The rain coincided with spring tides and it was at one time feared that major flooding could occur with the high tide if the rain continued. Fortunately, however, the rain abated and little damage by the river was done. The high, surging tide that night did some damage to the road around Wakefield Quay and Rocks Road and to slipways of the Aurora Sailing Club and the piling of the Rowing Club next door.

The pix of the Maitai in flood were taken about 7.15 pm shortly after water levels reached their peak.

The Collingwood Street bridge which normally spans a Maitai with only a dribble of water in it at low tide, had only a few feet clearance.

At one stage a section of the roadway at Avon Terrace was inundated

This was the scene at Shakespeare Walk, the site or intense beautifying activity by Nelson Jaycees earlier this year (the white stones at left are set just below the kerb line of the road).