The most serious flooding in Mid Canterbury for many years was experienced on the 21st. It resulted from rain during the night ranging from one inch (2.5 cm) at Seaboard to six inches (15.2 cm) at Springburn, in the foothills. There were far heavier falls in the back country.

Rivers and creeks in South Canterbury rose in high flood running feet above their previous highest levels. Stream bank erosion occurred in all rivers, many broke and overflowed their banks.

Disasterous floods covered wide areas of South Canterbury and part of North Otago. Many towns were isolated and the flooding was made worse by fact that the ground was already well saturated before the heavy rains.

It was one of the most serious floods in South Canterbury for many years.

Farmers reported a disasterous effect on their crops. Many crops were a complete loss, which caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds from the farming community in south Canterbury. The constant rain made this season one of the worst in history in south Canterbury.

A large proportion of the linen flax crop throughout South Canterbury had to be written off as a complete loss. There were 1000 acres of linen flax rotting in fields.

Potato crops suffered considerably. There was almost a total loss of potato crops in some districts.

Small seed crops were completely ruined by continued spells of rain.

Serious loss of milling wheat in and oats in South Canterbury was reported.

In Ashburton, Waimate, Temuka, Geraldine and Kurow, the flood waters forced many residents to evacuate their houses. Several parties were still marooned on the night of the 21st with no chance of rescue before daylight. There was also heavy flooding at Washdyke, St Andrews, Fairlie, Pareora and Makikihi.

There was heavy flooding on roads and damage to bridges by washouts.

Large areas of farmlands were under water and losses of stock were heavy.

Ashley and Selwyn Rivers broke their banks causing flooding in North Canterbury.

Damage was done to the South Island Main Trunk railway. The Methven, Oxford and Southbridge railway lines were out of commission.

One hundred and seven miles (172km) of main trunk railway was damaged between Selwyn and Morven.

There were two major washouts and thirty seven smaller washouts along the railway line and two major bridge and a large number of minor bridge repairs were required.

Flood damage in the Geraldine County and Temuka Borough was estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds.

There was no loss of life caused by the flood.

Several bridges were completely destroyed. A huge number of other bridges were badly damaged and had their approaches washed out, especially in the south of the region.

There was considerable damage by flooding in the area of the Highbank irrigation and power scheme.

Immense quantities of shingle and clay were brought down burying several newly erected houses.

Conservative estimates of crop losses was up to 200,000 pounds ($13,300,000 2006 dollars).

Country roads and bridges suffered £51,200 ($3,400,000 2006 dollars) damage.

An area of approximately 120,00 acres was affected in Orari and Temuka catchments. Damage totalled £485,000 ($32,400,000 2006 dollars)

Many towns were isolated and communications were disrupted.

Railways and roads suffered damage.

Hinds and Ashburton Rivers broke their banks, resulting in extensive flooding of adjacent areas.

The steamer express from Wellington was held up at Lyttelton for approximately four hours on the night of the 20th waiting for passengers south of Timaru.

Water on the airport reached a depth of 11 ft (3.4m) and was still rising on the night of the 21st.

Livestock were seriously affected. Sheep were particularly suffering from scouring and footrot.

Damage done by the flooding was so great that it could not be estimated.

In Ashburton, the Main South Road was blocked by flood waters.

Several houses near the river were vacated.

Water flowed over the approach to the Ashburton traffic bridge.

Ashburton River flooded the State Highway to a depth of 7 ft (2.1m) and flooded the Main South Road as far as Tinwald township, to an average depth of about 6 in (15.2cm).

Twelve people were evacuated from the south end of Ashburton.

Rail and road traffic beyond Ashburton was impassable.

It was the most widespread flood to occur in the Ashburton district in the last 80 years.

Over the plains of the Ashburton district the rainfall average recurrance interval exceeded 100 years.

Ashburton River broke banks 20 kilometres from the town.

Flooding was caused by a break in the banks of the Ashley River. It occurred 100 metres above the traffic bridge crossing the river near Waikuku and flooded an extensive area of country, blocking the Main North Road.

The state highway was blocked north and south of Christchurch, including the Main South Road. There were several other roads impassable owing to surface water.

Flooding occurred on the Eyre River diversion in North Canterbury.

Many acres of countryside in the Eyre county were underwater.

The Geraldine to Fairlie highway was blocked at White's corner and near Mount Micheal. The Cave to Fairlie highway on route to Timaru was blocked at Mawaro.

There was considerable surface flooding.

Opihi River was blocking the road at Bains crossing above Fairlie and had broken out across the State Highway above Kimbell.

Reports were received of sheep being wased down flooded creeks.

Jacks Pass Road was flooded to a depth of 18 inches (0.46m).

Hinds River broke its banks in several places causing serious flooding on Maronana road and the Christchurch to Dunedin highway.

Hinds River flooded 34,000 acres (13,800 ha).

The Hinds River bridge was impassable.

Many houses in the Mayfield township were surrounded by water.

Flood water to a depth of a few inches entered houses.

Many fowl died.

Flooding in parts of the township caused residents to vacate their houses. Many houses in the outskirts of Kurow had to be vacated also.

The Oamaru to Omarama highway was impassable at Fern Gully above Kurow. There was flooding on the road Oamaru to Kurow at Bortons.

Lake Ellesmere was at a very high level. There was extensive flooding in the area with houses completely surrounded by the flood waters.

Waitaki River had a peak discharge of 57,747 cusecs (1635 cumecs) at Lake Waitaki.

There were washouts on the railway line near Makikihi.

Main North Road between Oamaru and Makikihi was impassable.

Methven area suffered badly. A house at Highbank was surrounded up to the floor joists by water backed up against the irrigation channel stopbank.

At Opihi River reserve, a number of people were marooned, when the flood waters rose 10 ft (3 m).

Orari River had a peak discharge at the Otari Bridge of approximately 32,000 cusecs (906 cumecs).

Orari River had a peak discharge at its mouth of 38,000 cusecs (1076 cumecs).

It was Impossible to get through to Orari or to Winchchester as the main highway routes were closed.

Shops in town were closed.

One farmer, at Orari, lost £500 ($33,400 2006 dollars) worth of crop in one field and there were hundreds of similar cases all over the district.

Orari River overflowed causing extensive flooding to farmland nearby.

The old bridge was unsafe for traffic use.

Water entered two houses south of Otaio River.

At Pleasant Point, a bus with 18 passengers was marooned on a bridge. Further south an army truck with passengers was also marooned.

Rakaia River was in moderate flood with a peak discharge of 38,000 cusecs (1076 cumecs) at the automatic recorder.

There were two wash-outs on the railway near Saint Andrews. The north-bound express was held up by deep water over line between Saint Andrews and Pareora.

There was more than 3 ft (0.91m) of water pouring over the road north of Saint Andrews.

The main street was flooded.

Selwyn River had a peak discharge of 11,000 cusecs (311 cumecs) at Ellesmere.

The river burst its banks in many places and rendered the Main South Road impassable at Dunsandel.

Vast sheets of water covered the countryside on both sides of the Selwyn river and fresh channels were formed along old creek beds.

Temuka River had a peak discharge of 30,000 cusecs (850 cumecs) at Temuka and overflowed its banks to the north of town.

Temuka and Waihi Rivers broke their banks and flooded the town of Temuka in one of the most disasterous floods in history of the district.

Flood waters to a depth of 1.5m flowed through the township and water along the main steet was to a depth of 3 ft (0.91m).

Many houses were marooned and more than one hundred people were rendered homeless.

All road traffic was suspended.

Railway lines suffered damage heavily. 140 ft (43m) of line was washed away at Temuka Bridge.

23 bridges were either destroyed or rendered impassable. Many culverts were damaged or destroyed.

There was very considerable damage was done to business premises, homes and farm properties.

The previous highest level in Temuka was recorded in 1902.

In the lower part of the business area of Temuka, near Clarke's Corner, water had risen to a depth of 9 ft (2.7m).

There was a bad washout on the line about 100 yards south of the Temuka station, another at Smilie's near Fairlie and several between Pareora and Studholme.

On the morning of the 21st, Timaru was practically an island. It was isolated due road and rail wash outs and flooding to the north and south.

At the airport, flood water rose to the roof of the pavilion.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in the Saltwater Creek area throughout the day on the 21st.

All the roads to Pleasant Point were cut off by flood waters. On the south road Saltwater Creek and the Pareora River Bridge was impassable.

The Gapes Valley and Kakahu areas were badly flooded.

The road to Landsborough was inaccessible.

At Washdyke, the water on the main road rose 6 ft (1.8m) on the night of the 20th when high tide caused the Washdyke Lagoon to bank up. Flood waters scoured out the road.

A few houses south-east of Washdyke was vacated by the occupants.

There were heavy losses among stock.

The main pipeline carrying the water supply to the Timaru reservoir was broken in three or more places.

Flooding worst at Saltwater Creek. The high sea was breaking in and the flood water was not getting away.

In many cases the water is up to the roof tops.

The low-lying parts of Waimataitai were entirely submerged and homes were evacuated.

Evans and Hobbs Streets were impassable and parts of Stafford, Brown and le Cren Streets were deep under water.

Half a million unburnt bricks were destroyed at the brick works in College Road. Flood waters invaded the kiln to a depth of 4 ft (1.22m).

Neither trains nor buses could get through to Fairlie

In Levels County the Rockwood bridge was completely destroyed.

All low land between the hills and the sea south of Timaru was under water.

Waimate was isolated for a period. Flood waters from Waihao River reach a depth of 4 ft (1.22m) on the main street.

Waihoa River had a peak discharge at the state highway bridge of 35,000 cusecs (991 cumecs).

Waimate was cut off from the south and road traffic northward from Waimate was blocked by streams of water across the highway.

The flood was the worst in the history of the Waimate County.

More than 12 homes were known to have been affected by the floods in the southern areas of the town.

Damage was reported as far back as Hakataramea and Maungati.

Several piles were swept from under the Pareora railway bridge.

In Totara valley area 1000 sheep were washed away from one farm alone. Stock losses on other farmers were very heavy.

Extensive flooding in many parts of the province caused considerable dislocation of road and rail services.

Due to washouts and bridge damage north of Oamaru (between Morven and Hinds), there was no further railway traffic north .

Clutha River rose with unprecedented speed.

Taieri River broke its banks on the evening of the 20th.

On the 22nd the road between Dunedin and Middlemarch was still impassable with up to 30 in (0.76m) of water on the stretch between Allanton and Outram.

Pomahaka River rose 8 ft (2.4m) above normal causing serious flooding in the Kelso district.

Some water was still running through the streets of Kelso on the night of the 21st although the river was falling.

On the 21st motorists got through to the township for the first time since the night of the 19th.

Two lorries loaded with sheep were left stranded for 24 hours in flood waters when it became impossible to drive them further through a deep stretch. The sheep survived.

Water reached the doorsteps of houses and flood waters 2-3 ft (0.61-0.91m) deep were flowing down the streets. It entered shops and a garage.

The express train on the 22nd was not be able to get past Milton.

At Paerau, the Styx Creek had a peak discharge of 2536 cusecs (72 cumecs).

The river at Tapanui had risen 11 ft (3.4m) above normal on the afternoon of the 20th.

Pomahaka River reached a peak level of 16 ft (4.9m) at Tapanui Bridge gauge. It was reported to be the worst flood for 24 years.

Lake Wanaka had an estimated peak discharge of 17,700 cusecs (501 cumecs).

Hawea had an estimated peak discharge of 4775 cusecs (135 cumecs).

Lake Wakatipu had an estimated peak discharge of 12,200 cusecs (345 cumecs).

At Alexandra, Clutha River had an estimated peak discharge of 58,500 cusecs (1657 cumecs).

Clutha River had a peak river level of 24 ft 3 in (7.4m) at the gauge at Alexandra.

Practically all low-lying areas were inundated.

Balclutha had an estimated peak discharge of 95,000 cusecs (2690 cumecs).

There was a major flood in the Clutha River and Balclutha area.

The Clutha River level was 72.5 ft (22.1m) at the Balclutha traffic bridge.

There were several breaks in the stopbank around Balclutha. The worst break occurred at Stirling.

At a break in stopbank, by the main highway connecting Kaitangata to Balclutha, river overtopped the bank, falling onto cultivated land. It caused scour, cut back towards river and collapsed the bank, connecting back up with river. Floodwaters poured through the gap at a rate of 13,000 cusecs (368 cumecs), flooding Stirling, Benhar, Lovells Flat and Kaitangata areas (an area of 35,000 acres).

Damage in the Balclutha area totalled £121,000 ($8,100,000 2006 dollars). This included £70,000 ($4,700,000 2006 dollars) to farmers and £51,000 ($3,400,000 2006 dollars) to public works but not including damage to railways, coalmines, freezing works or dairy factories.

Several farmsteads at Inchclutha had water in the houses to depth of a few inches.

There was minimal inconvenience at Balclutha caused by the flooding except that at south end. The low-lying paddocks were under water due to the lock at the outlet of the drainage creek not being closed in time.

Several settlers at Inchclutha and Paretai were marooned owing to flooding of access roads.

On the 27th the floodwaters were still rising in Kaitangata. There was a break in the floodgates on the outlet stream from Kaitangata Lake and water was steadily approaching the dairy factory. The flood extended over an area of nine miles by five miles, including the Stirling, Benhar, Lovells Flat and Kaitangata districts.

On the 28th the flooded areas of Stirling and Kaitangata districts were still in a serious position.

At Barnego, the road to Balclutha was under water and water entered several homesteads on the flat. The road to Stirling was also under water in parts.

By the 28th, the Barnego area was practically clear of flood water.

The worst effects of the flood were experienced at the Paretai settlement, where the flood-bank burst.

On the 20th the freezing works at Finegand had to be closed owing to the inability to get stock there. The low-lying ground in the neighbourhood was flooded.

One farmer at Finegand lost a number of sheep on the night of the 20th.

There was extensive flooding on the plains.

Many crops near Taieri River were ruined.

On the night of the 20th the road at West Taieri Bridge was covered to depth of 7 ft (2.1m). The road from Mosgiel to Outram was impassable to traffic.

The railway line between Riverside and Bradfield was under water on the night of the 20th.

Tairei River was in high flood and broke its banks at Riverside, flooding large part of East Taieri.

On the 21st between 500 and 1000 acres of farmland at East Taieri was inundated.

At Hindon Crossing, Taieri River was reported to be at 17 foot mark (5.2 metres deep).

Water was reported over the Main North Road at Maheno.

Road to Central Otago was blocked on the 20th between Milton and Alexandra by flooding at Waitahuna. Water was 2.5 ft (0.76m) above road level.

On the road from Palmerston to Dunback there was approximately 18 in (0.46m) of water over road five kilometres from Palmerston. Cars were having difficulty passing it.

A Kakanui farmer and resident of many years said he couldn't remember ever seeing so much water lying around in the paddocks and on the roads.

Heavy rain had an adverse affect on all stock and low-lying farmlands were turned into miniature lakes.

The effect on all cereals and tuber crop were disastrous.

There were great stretches of water around Enfield.

It was reported that Enfield Hall was flooded to depth of several inches.

Railway and service buses from Tokarahi were stopped at Enfield and the Ngapara train didn't run on the 22nd.

Airedale district was isolated.

Water at Devil's bridge was higher than it had been for many years and the road was impassable.

Rain was falling almost incessantly at Ranfurly since the 16th. Ranfurly recorded 3.54 in (9.0cm) of rain in six days from the 16th to the 21st.

Floodwater was backing up from the Molyneux River into a tributary of the Waitepeka Stream. It broke through the stopbank and inundated a considerable area of land in the Paretai district.

Crops of turnips and potatoes were covered with water.

The most serious damage was done to oat crops and other grass crops.

Water was 18 in (0.46m) deep over the road at Parawa.

Mataura River rose 6 ft (1.8m) above normal at Balfour.

Crops in the district suffered severely, particularly wheat and linen flax.

Oreti River was in high flood on the afternoon of the 20th and overtopped its banks at Lumsden. Water on the road was quite shallow.

Flood appeared to have reached its peak on the night of the 20th night, but there was still a good deal of water up country.

All creeks in district were running like rivers and there was a good deal of surface water about.

The Mataura River annual maximum flood discharge was 453 cumecs on the 21st.