SERIOUS FLOODS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1792, 17 March 1888, Page 3

SERIOUS FLOODS

[from oub own correspondent.] Rakaia, Saturday morning. Owing to the heavy raid yesterday on the hills, the Hakafa river waa very hiph, m fact almost bank and bank m the evening. The firßt train from Aahburton this morning could not cross the bridge owing, it is stated, to some of the pilea being washed away. The pasaerjgera by this train and the express had ts walk over the bridge. Tho water is very high this morning, and nt the north end of the bridge has overflowed the banks, the platelayers cottages there being aurronnded with water of some depth. For some time the water has mostly made for the north side of the river and a large portion of the bank has been scoured away after each fresh. At present it is impossible to state what damage is sustained. Later. A number of the piles are fonnd to be Blmply hanging to the bridge at the north end. (Per Pbess Association.) Greymouth, March 16 Tho river is rid i<* steadily hero and at Ahaura, and the r^in ia coming down very heavl'y. The fljod witer is *;oinr away rapidly, and thero fs no sign of its backing up m the lagoon, as it uaqa'.l? does when very high In tho river. New Plymouth, March 17. A terrific electric storm passed over Now Plymouth laat uight which lasted fur two hours. The lightning wa3 moat vivid and the rala fell m torrents No daimge is reported, aithongh a whirlwind was seen to suspend sheets of corrugated iron iv the ale for Borne seconds, carrying there some thirty to forty yards.