GREAT FLOOD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 398, 18 July 1881, Page 2

GREAT FLOOD.

£20.000 Damage Done

Storekeepers Ruined.

[nr TE I.TvOR APH. ] Thames, Yesterday

The severest and most destructive flood ever experienced here occurred last night. The rain was incessant for forty-eight hours, and all the creeks were so flooded as to carry away bridges, and bring down a thousand tons of debris. Two men were washed away, and one body has been recovered. About fifty million feet of bulk timber were washed to the booms at the Shortland mills, and millions were washed to sea. The damage to the town was very great, and is estimated at LIO.OOO. The borough corporation put on fifty men to repair damages, and it is estimated that they will require L 5,000 to make good the injury to the culverts, streets, etc. A meeting of the Council to consider ways and means will be held in the morning. rp he domestic water supply race, and some of the county races have been destroyed, and the water is cut off. The body recovered is that of Daniel Boyle, of -’Shortland ; the other was a Maori. Many small dwellings were washed away, and much damage done to the batteries. The captain of the Rotomahana states that he saw a waterspout break over the town as ho approached it from Auckland. Thames, To-day.

The estimated damage done by the flood is L 20,000 to the local works, county water race. Borough reservoir, culverts, creeks, bridges, etc.; some of the storekeepers are completely ruined. The opinion is now confirmed that it is the result of a waterspout, for the localities on each side of the Borough ars comparatively little injured. The County and Borough anthoritics have telegraphed to the Government for assistance.