TREMENDOUS FLOODS IN WESTLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1786, 10 March 1888, Page 3

TREMENDOUS FLOODS IN WESTLAND.

(PER PKESS A.-800IATI0N.) Westport, M)*rc'< 9 (Evening.) f^ent by steamer to G r Hymoctli for transmission. l This town haß been out on completely from telegraphic communicatir n wih tht oataide world Bince We 'ne^ay nluht. For three h< nrg on Tnurnd y mornl n ir there was a bnrat of the heaviest rain ever experienced since the settlement of fcV town. The greater portion of <he borough wkb fl joded, especially the lowlying pnr. tions, to a depth of several feet. N damage was d( ne bat much discomfort and inonnvnlc-nc^ were caused. Th< Buller river is m hij>h flood, and it la found that telegraphic o >m uanicntion is interrupted. The Reef on coaoh made an attempt to no yesterday morning bat at one place on the road (owing; to the overflow) the horses had to swim and the coaoh was compelled to retorn to t wj. A second start was m»de this morntnp, tho teleurapn lineman helng a passenger Five mi'en oat of town (he coach stuck In the middle of the r>ad . The driver endeavored to push through on horseback with the mails, hot after crossing the Buller river, nine miles from Westport, he fonnd >he road completely blocked wi'.h heavy slips The whole hillside on which the road is contracted appeared to slipped into the river, Several telegraph poles were down, and the wires were twisted or entangled, and were covered with debris. The repairs to tulegriph line are expected to take three daye, as the mat6rial has to be carried on men's lucks five miles It is feared that oao large bridge on the road has been carried B\v*y, as the decking of a bridge has haeo seen floating down the ; riv^r. Altogether very extensive d mage has been dona to the main road, and the Buller Cnanty Council has no fuads to repair damages. Later. T^e Weap^rt Bailer road is completely w-ecked. Is ia estimated that it would be three mot tha before it is a^ain open fo whe 1 traffic. A surface man named O'Brien has been k'lled by a slip. The telegraph Hnp is temporal y restored.