FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 483, 28 July 1871, Page 2

FLOODS IN CANTERBURY.

[from the "peiss," jjii 2 o.] The sudden change on Tuesday last in the weather, from the freezing cold of winter to a warm nor'-wester of summer, has, as usual, producod a heary fresh in all the snow rivers of the province. Yeutorday, the river at Kaiapoi began to show signs of a fresh about midday, although the rise was not very great. As the alternoon wore on there was but little change in the north branch, and any rising observable was caused by the backing of the water in the south branoh. Late in tlie evening the river flooded several of the streets in Kaiapoi, and did some slight damage to some of the stores on the bank of the river, but nothing worth mentioning. Charles, ■ Jones, . and Raven streets were partly flooded, and Messrs. Feldwick and Oarston's stores were both under water. The state of affairs, however, on the land "bordering on the south branch was very different. The flood seems all to have come down this branch, and the consequence is that a portion of the island and a large tract of land on the south side of the river has been seriously flooded. 3?rbm what we can le^rn, the whole of the road from near Troleavcn's to a point a mile a^nd a half beyond White's: bridge, was last evening, under water. It was tho utmost difficulty that the Leithfield coach succeeded in coming through, and had it not been for the very careful driving of Mr. Lee some accident might have happened, as more than once the leaders of his team were actually swimming. The flood was deepest; near Chaney's corner, at which point, we understand, the fences on each side of the road were nearly completely covered with water. The river was almost up to the planking of White's bridge, and was within three feet of the capails of the railway bridge. As a matter of course, all traffic on the North road was suspended yesterday afternoon. The Kaiapoi coach, which leaves Cbristchurch at three proceeded as far as Treleaven'e, and returned to town again. Aba late hour last evening we learned, from that the flood was gradually subsiding. A correspondent of the same journal says that he felt a shock of earthquake during the storm on Tuesday night.