It was the biggest flood since 1887.

Houses were evacuated from Greymouth to Karamea.

There was interruptions of the telegraph and telephone services between the West Coast and other districts.

Heavy flooding occurred in Buller with is rising 25 ft (7.62m) at Cascade Creek.

At the Nile Wharf in Westport flood waters were 4 ft (1.22m) from overtopping it.

Floods and damaged telegraph lines isolated Westport from everywhere except Greymouth.

Flooded state of Buller River caused a swift current in the Westport Harbour.

Buller and adjacent rivers were in flood.

Numerous washouts and slips occurred in the area including 3 to 4 slips between Tiroroa and Westport.

The peak discharge at the Rotoroa outfall was 3860 cusecs (109 cumecs).

At Jackson's Flat, near Inangahua, on the night of the 9th, there was 2 ft 6 in (0.76m) of water over road for first time in many years.

Mokihinui River rose rapidly flooding the district.

Residents of Waimarie township at the mouth of Mokihinui River had to leave homes by boats between 7 and 8pm on the 9th.

Late on the night of the 9th the houses were reported to be submerged in the flood.

Water was waist deep at the hotel.

At Seddonville the rising flood waters entered some of the houses in low lying parts of township late on the night of the 9th.

The post mistress at St. Helens, two miles on Westport side of Mokihinui River, was rescued from flooded the post office by boat.

At lower Mokihinui all the houses were flooded.

Extensive flooding occurred at Karamea. The low lying lands were flooded and Karamea was isolated.

Water was several inches deep in some buildings after 9:30pm on the 9th and many homes were abandoned.

Market Cross post office was flooded early in the evening on the 9th and Karamea post office was surrounded by water at 10pm.

The Simpson's Hotel flooded to a water depth of one foot (0.30m).

Report from Karamea and Seddonville at 11pm on the 9th said heavy rain was continuing and the flood was still rising.

Karamea River had a discharge of 67000 cusecs (1897 cumecs) at the river mouth with a catchment area of 620 sq miles (1606km^2).

The river rose rapidly at Karamea.

It was the most vicious flood since 1895.

Grey River was in very high flood and was flowing at 12 knots (22.2km^2).

The Grey River enveloped the Grey wharf at 4am on the 10th causing severe damage.

The river was backed up by the high tide. It burst through the rail embankment along Mawhera Quay and flooded the lower portion of Greymouth.

Streets in Greymouth were flooded to a depth of several feet. The flood level reached 1.52m in some places.

Floodwaters invaded shops, hotels and residences and caused extensive damage and serious losses to businesses. Almost every business from Tainui Street to the sea and around the Blaketown Lagoons had suffered damage.

Residences were invaded by flood waters in William Street, Preston Road and Blaketown.

Revington's Hotel had flood water in it 5 ft (1.52m) deep.

Many homes near the river were evacuated and some occupants were rescued by boats.

The flood exceeded the 1913 flood level by 9 in (0.23m).

Stock losses in Grey Valley were very severe where large numbers of cattle and sheep drowned. The heaviest losses occurred between Ahaura and Stillwater.

Some farmers lost up to £250 ($24,400 2009 dollars) worth of cattle and sheep.

The West Coast Rugby League lost 26 sheep and 22 lambs.

Several bridges were washed away in the area and extensive slips blocked some roads.

There was no loss of life.

Big and Little Grey Rivers, and Sawyers Creek were in high flood.

A number of eels and several trout were swept into the main street by the flood.

Many motor cars were caught by the flood.

There were some losses of poultry.

Leonard Street and Victoria Park were inundated.

Water was 5 to 6 ft (1.52-1.83m) deep along the streets fronting Blaketown Lagoon.

Traffic to Blaketown was cut off.

Motor cars parked in garages in Boundary and Herbert Streets were damaged. There was damage caused in furniture warehouses in Herbert Street.

Most of the houses in Nelson Quay, Peel Street and Lower Brighton Sreet were flooded with water 1.82m deep in some places.

There was 140 sheep and 15 cattle lost on Cobden Island.

Cobden Island was hit severly due to lack of warning as they had no fire bell.

A number of people had to be evacuated by boat.

Blackball Bridge on the Grey River had a long span of it washed out.

There were washouts on the railway line between Ngahere and Ahaura.

Ikamatua River was in high flood.

Omoto racecourse was invaded by flood water which was over the tops of fences.

Once the water receded the racecourse was covered with silt and debris.

The flat was a wide expanse of water with almost all of the fences underwater.

All houses except those on the highest levels were flooded.

Stock losses were considered to be fairly heavy.

From Coal Creek to Ikamatua all the farmers on the river flats suffered.

Taramakau River was in high flood.

The road from Wainihinihi was impassable.

Stock losses were heavy.

The main highway from Kumara to Otira was blocked by a landslide.

Harley Creek bridge was completely carried away.

Washouts occurred on the Reefton railway line.

Hokitika recorded 2 in (5.08cm) of rain in 48 hours.

There was incessant heavy rain on the 8th to the 9th and continued during the morning of the 9th.

The rain caused heavy floods in Hokitika River and other rivers in the area on the 9th.

At 6pm on the 9th the tide was high at Hokitika and the water at the wharf was only 22 in (0.56m) lower than the flood in 1934.

Hokitikia and Arahura Rivers cause considerable damage to protective works.

The airfield on the south side of the river was inundated

Low lying areas of town were covered with water.

Many roads were scoured in places.

Report from Kokatahi that the flood there was one of the heaviest on record.

Arahura River was reported to have submerged parts of some farms on the flats.

At 7:30pm on the 9th the flood waters were backed up in Hamilton Street and around the post office.

The footbridge over Goat Creek was washed away. A winch and other contractors' plant was also washed down the creek.

The iron grating over the intake which supplied the power house with water was broken by moving boulders.

A washout occurred on the public road between Aickens and Otira and motorists couldn't get through.

The creeks between Jacksons and Otira were impassable.

Two goods trains between Otira and Arthur's Pass were cancelled because of a failure in electric power supply at Otira power house caused by blocking of the water intake.

Bruce Bay was isolated.

Flooding was as extensive in the south as in the northern part of the district.

Low lying farmlands were inundated.

South Westland aerodomes were closed by surface water.

Winds throughout the areas affected were generally very strong and in some of the areas the earlier north-westerly changed to the north and north-east.

There were heavy stock losses.

Waiau and Hurunui Rivers in North Canterbury were 10 ft (3.05m) above normal.

In mid Canterbury the major rivers were in moderate flood.

There was considerable disorganisation of rail, telegraph and telephone communication.

The rain reached its height between Springfield and Otira. Thunder, lightning, heavy gales and rain were described as having been intense between Springfield and Arthur's Pass.

Two telegraphic circuits to Greymouth were disconnected on the 9th.

The train service to Greymouth had small delays. This was partly because the automatic signals were put out of action. The wires were broken by poles falling and trees crashing across the line.

Waiau and Hurunui Rivers were both 10 ft (3.05m) above normal on the night of the 9th night, but they did not experience serious flooding.

Waimakariri River reached its highest flood to that time and had become a raging torrent.

Heavy rain melting the mountain snows swelled the Waimakariri River at its head early on the 9th. It rose at a rate of one foot (0.30m) per hour.

The flood river level began to drop by noon on the 10th and the level fell gradually. On the morning of the 11th, a small rise occurred until late in the night of the 11th.

Rakaia River had a peak discharge of 82,000 cusecs (2322 cumecs).

Rangitata River had a peak discharge of 45,000 cusecs (1274 cumecs) at the irrigation intake.

The peak discharge from Lake Waitaki into Waitaki River was 32,000 cusecs (906 cumecs).

The outfall at Lake Pukaki had a peak discharge 12,200 cusecs (345 cumecs).

The outfall at Lake Ohau had a peak discharge of 6,900 cusecs (195 cumecs).

Waimakariri River reached its highest level on record, being 6 in (15cm) above its height during the flood of 1926.

An unemployment camp near Cass was practically under water.

Cass and Bruce Streams were very high.

Between Kaiapoi and Pines Beach there was flooding with flood waters spread as far north as Woodend.

In Kaiapoi there was slight flooding in two streets, where water rose over the roadway and the footpaths.

On a farm south of Kaiapoi it was estimated that 50 or 60 ewes were lost and as many lambs.

100 ewes and lambs were lost on a farm between Stewart's Gully and the old south branch of the river.

20 ewes and 45 lambs were lost on a farm towards Pines Beach.

The north bank of the Waimakariri River was partly washed away.

Four baches at Kairaki were carried away in matter of a few minutes.

One bach owner estimated his loss at £300 ($29,300 2009 dollars).

About two chains (40m) depth of frontage was washed away.

Water went over Kairaki Spit in one or two places.

For half a mile above the Main North Road bridge the highway was under water.

Water was over the main road to Hanmer for a short distance on the morning of the 10th.