SERIOUS FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1003, 19 November 1883, Page 2

SERIOUS FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

The heavy rain experienced in Ashburton on Saturday has not, so far as we have yet learnt, done any great damage, but the floods caused in the South have been very disastrous, resulting in one instance in the death of Mr Allan Hobbs, who had been living in this district for some time past. The express on Saturday was detained at Otaio for some time and did not reach here till past ten o’clock, and it was about one on Sunday morning before passengers were landed at Christchurch. At Waimate the railway line has been extensively damaged, and the water on Saturday flooded the streets of that township and the racecourse was much injured. At the Anama Station a very severe storm was experienced on Saturday, and at Weaterfield yesterday there was a heavy downfall, accompanied by thunder. This morning’s Timaru Herald gives the following account of the flood in that district :—Judging by its effects, the rainfall must have beau more severe south than north of Timaru.' As the time for the arrival of the express train from the South approached it was learnt that there was a great deal of storm water along the line, and that the train would be delayed in consequence. It subsequently transpired that it was stuck up about Makikihi, and a special was promptly despatched by Mr Jones from Timaru to try and connect with the express. The special, which left Timaru at 3 p.m., had attached to it a number of passenger carriages, and had on board Mr Verdon, Locomotive Foreman, and also Mr Hawkins, Inspector of Permanent Vt ay, with a large staff of road and ballast men. The evidences of the flood were first seen at Saltwater Creek, which was several feet above the ordinary level. At Normanby the Little and Big Pighunting Creeks were high, a perfect lagoon having formed up the flat at the back of the outlet of the latter. As the Pareora River was approached little flood water was seen, but on the bridge being reached two strong streams were seen coming down, the north one, which strikes the groin; and protective works constructed at the break caused by the last flood about the end of February last, being ths strongest. After crossing the river the low-lying lands on both sides were seen to be under water, which overflowed the line in some places. The train, however, got through to St Andrews, only one doubtful spot being so far noticed, namely about two miles on the Timaru side of the station. Af er a short stoppage the special continued its journey and then became noticeable the full elleot of the storm. From half way between St Andrews to Makikihi station it was a case of flood everywhere. On the upper side of the line the water had backed up, in some instances, for fully a mile back, the green shoots of the young crops only showing here and there. The dray road in many places was under water several, feet, while the tops of gorse hedges and fences were seen only on the hillocks. Fortunately the strip of land between the railway and the hills was of no great width. Wherever there was a culvert or a viaduct the water rushed through with immense force, but these apertures were few and far between, and proved totally inadequate to give vent to the flood, which poured over the railway line in a dozen different places. At times the water was nearly up to the axles of the railway wheels. The land on the seaward aide of the line presented a much more dismal aspect than that on the upper, for there omj long sheet of water presented itself for miles, in some instances reaching from the sea beach to the line. Here and Iheia small flocks of perished-looking sheep were seen clustered on a rise or amongst bunches of flax, looking as if their last hour had come. After passing the Otaio the worst part came, the cowcatcher of the engine literally ploughing its way through the water at times. Below Quinn’s there was a roaring rushing stream running for a long distance parallel to the line and then in a hollow rushing under and over it. A mile and a half or so this side of Makikihi the express was met, standing, afraid to run the risk of tackling the line. It was backed to the Mahikihi station, and the special train from Timaru, after its engine had been shunted to its other end, undertook to pilot it on its journey northwards. The Makikihi river was running bank and bank as the special went down the line, an I the outlook for the journey back did not look promising. At 4.45 p.m. the special was set in motion, the express following at a fair distance, much to the delight of the passengers by the latter, who were tired of waiting nearly three hours. All wont well until St Andrews was passed, but at the place already mentioned as being doubtful the pilot engine was seen to pull up. A couple of chains of the line had been undermined and the ballasting carried away. ft took Mr Hawkins and his men nearly an hour and a-half to put it right, the trains meanwhile standing in the midst of a miniature lake about two miles long, created on flooded paddocks. The workmen, however, threw their whole heart into their work, though they were up to their middle in the torrent. About seven o’clock another start was metde. On reaching the Pareora it presented a very altered appearance to what it had done about three hours previously. It had, in the interval, risen fully five feet, and was running in one broad stream at the bridge. Fortunately the outlet to (ho sea, as visible from the line, was a broad and straight one, otherwise the fresh must have done considerable dimage. The protective works on the north side already mentioned would have, vve believe, endangered the bridge, as they

divert the main stream„f6x, and make it run parajpCnKto until it reaches the which it , strikes almost lengthwise instead of 'tunning fairly between the bays. After passing the Pareora, good ( time was made to Timaru,’ which v[as reached at 7.30 p.m. The Saltwater Greek Lagoon, as the train passed, had not found/an outlet, and was close up to the railway, line,'-and covering all the lowland to the south-east corner where the line strikes the cliff. A. telegram from Dunedin dated yesterday says : —The rain which came down all day yesterday, particularly in the afternoon, in perfect bucketsfull, happily ceased about 9 p.m. Had it continued through the night the most serious floods ever known here would have had to be recorded. As it was, many lowlying places in the city and suburbs were under water, and tram communication with the suburbs was suspended. North-east Valley suffered most, the main street being a river a couple of feet deep, and the water standing a foot deep in some buildings. The damage done was small, the inconvenience of residents being the most serious result. The train from Invercargill was brought to a halt by the Kaikorai Creek at Burnside,iwhere the water is said to have been w foot higher than known since the construction of the railway line. In the hilly country north of Dunedin the rain seems to have been heaviest, at any rate the floods were more severe. As telegraphed last night, the Christchurch express, which was a mil train, as Saturday was the last day of the excursion fares, was stuck up at Palmerston. The various slips are expected to be cleared away to-day, and the passengers will get through to-night. The trains will all run as usual to-morrow. A fatal accident arising out of the floods is reported from Palmerston. . A party of six of the train passengers chartered a buggy to come through to Dunedin, and about three miles this side of Palmerston, they got off the road, which was covered with water, in the dark. One passenger named Hobbs, who was the caretaker of Mrs Dodson’s horse Cassivelanus, which is stationed in the Aahburlon district, was drowned. The other passengers had a narrow escape, but some ' young men named Sloan who live in the ' neighborhood lent them valuable assistance. The horses were drowned. A 1 good deal of damage has been done aboat Blueskin also in the shape of small [ bridges being washed away, etc. No par- ’ ticulars are in frqm the South, but the I rain is understood not to have been so heavy there'. ’ To-day there is no rain, ' though the weather is dull and lowering. The Northern mails were brought on to- ’ day from Palmerston by coach. [by TELEGRAPH.] ' Dunedin, To-day. r Traffic was rejumed this morning. Gordon Bros’ nursery in the North-East Valley was completely wrecked by , the * floods. They estimate their loss at 1.400 Charles Eadie, groom to Mr Calcutt at Goodwood, was drowned 1 in trying tb'cross 3 the creek to get to the Goodwood rail way i' station.