ALEXANDRA.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 222, 11 October 1878, Page 5

ALEXANDRA.

As to the damage at Alexandra, the Tuapeka Times' correspondent writes: — As most of your readers are doubtless aware, Tarbert-street constitutes the principal portion of Alexandra. This street runs parallel with the Molyneux — the lower end terminating near the bank of the Manuherikia River, to which there is a gradual fall ; Mr Theyers' store being at the bottom of the street on the one side and Mr Beattie's bakery on the other. About noon on Sunday the water was up to Mr Theyer's dwellinghouse) which is about eighteen inches below the level of the store, and as the river was still rising Mr Theyers resolved to remove his goods. All the available vehicles and horses were immediately put in requisition and as there were scores of volunteers who rendered assistance, the store and dwellinghouse were cleared out in an incredibly short space of time. The river still continuing to rise, Messrs Rivers and Findlay also removed the heaviest portion of their stocks ; Messrs Theyers and Rivers putting their goods in the Town Hall, which is about six feet higher than Thoyers' store, and Mr Finlay's were placed in Mr Eraser's blacksmith slio.p, still higher up the street. It was a strange scene in our quiet town on a Sunday afternoon. A line of vehicles in almost constant motion, for the drivers had hardly time to pull up in front of the store before the vehicles were heaped up with goods, and off again at a trot to the Town Hall, where another body of men unloaded them just as quickly. . . . The total damage done cannot be estimated until the river gets lower. A great many gardens are quite ruined by the great deposit of silt lodged on them. Up the Manuherikia, J. Terry's house was completely covered and his garden destroyed. A. GemmilTs, R. M'Keeman's and J. M'Naughton's houses were destroyed, and the gardens spoiled. The Balmoral Hotel and garden were also | destroyed, and part of the Moutere ; station washed away. At Sandy Point, lon the Molyneux, W. Ryan lost his .house and a paddock of oats, &c. ; and J. Halley also lost his house and paddock. As to the mining claims, " You could not see where they had been." Tail races | are totally obliterated, and it will take | months before the damages are repaired, and it will be many years before that memorable Sunday of September 29th will be forgotten by the residents of the district.