THE FLOODS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 931, 1 May 1883, Page 2

THE FLOODS.

The heavy and continuous rains of last night and to-day have caused very serious floods throughout the country, but fortunately, so far, they have bean confined to damaging, more or less, public and private property, and no loss of life has been reported. S f ill, sorts of rumors were prevalent this morning in town as to the partial destruction of various bridges on the railway line, but up to three o’clock we were not able to find out that any damage had been done furtherthan that the permanent way in several instances had been washed away. The morning train, which left here for Timaru at the usual time, proceeded as far as the Rangitata station, on the south side of the river, and owing to a large portion of the line being washed away at a place called Cooper’s Creek, the train returned to Ashburton. The morning express from Christchurch did not go further [than Ashburton. As there were a number, of passengers who came by the express who wished to catch the ship Fenatantdn at Port Chalmers, they had to return to Christchurch and proceed by steamer from Lyttelton direct. About 12 o’clo |k a train left Ashburton with,; -jar few-passen-gers, amongst whom was the Hpii. W. Rolleaton, Minister for Lands, but it did not go further than Winslow, as it was expected that the Hinds bridge would not stand, owing to the immense body Of water then coming down that river. . Old resitttHpOf the nc * B Ba 7 that they never saw aTSjrtniug'like ,the .body 0 f water was morning in the Hinds just above the bridge. The roads and padin the neighborhood ; of the Hinds station are nearly all under waterj and, look like a large lake. Between Winslow and Tinwald tbs water,is running ovir the lino to the depth of fully one foot in<some places. Opposite the County saleyards, a large body ,pf water is, crossing the line, but through the exertions of a number of men, very little damage has been ! done to the. line.’ At Ford’S road also, aj large stream of water is running, and looks unpleasantly near several house. Mr Bain’s house, at Tin Wald, is surrounded by a large lake, which is fully three feet I deep in places. The stationmaater’s house at Tinwald is also surrounded with water up to the front door. The benefit of the Tinwald drain has been greatly felt by the residents of this township, for there can be no doubt, that had it not been the railway line and bouses on the dower side of the Great South road would i have suffered severely. A portion of the Methven line has been washed away, but we hear that it will very shortly be ; made available for traffic again. No damage has been done to the Rakaia bridge or the line between Ashburton and Christchurch traffic has not been impe ied to any extent.

CjtaisTGHUECH, To-day. Heavy rain set in again last night and continued almost without intermission till daylight this morning. It is still raining at short intervals. . All‘ the rivers are in flood, and it is feared extensive damage will be done. The north train was unable to gqt beyond Seftonthis merning.

Timaru, To-day,

It his; been raining, very heavily here for the last 36 hours, and there are extensive floods north and south of Timaru. There is 4|ft, of water in the main l street 1 of Temuka, and numbers of houses are inu n - dated. The express train from the North' could not get beyond Orari, "owing to the damage to the railway line. The South train is stuck up at Makikihi, owing to the same cause. The Albany line is also damaged, and all communication is stopped. The rivers are all overflowing their banks, arid'a deal of damage is expected. It is still (1.30 p.m.) raining heavily.

Oamaru, To-day.

Owing to the damage caused by the heavy rains traffic bn the North Railway between Timaru and Oamaru is suspended. The express train from Dunedin stopped hdre, and returned to DUuediu this afternoon. i ‘