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Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 89, 25 July 1871, Page 6

The thunder-storm on Tuesday Inst was very severely felt at Queenstown. The first peal of thunder was heard about 3 a.m., the rumbling being echoed from mountain to mountain for some minutes, and eifectuallv -waking all who were in the land of dreams. During the day the rain poured down incessantly, accompanied by thunder and lightning every few minutes. In the evening the lightning was peculiarly vivid, the air being bcavilv charged with electricity. The Shotover Ttiver was reported to have 1 risen five feet during the day, complete.lv flooding all the river claims. At Arrowtown, the great Chinese Claim, at the rear of the township, narrowly escaped being destroyed by the flood. On Tuesday night the river was observer! to be risincr rapidly, threatening to sweep away the main embankment. The Chinamen, however, were equal to the emergency, for tbev turned out en mtusc, and worked most energetically throughout the night strengthening and protecting the weak portions of the bank. Fortunately, their labour was not in vain, for the claim was saved, and the damage sustained is not serious. The damage done at the Eight-mile and Twelve-mile by the flood has been considerable, the Chinese being the i heaviest losers. Those claimholdcrs who had 1 taken the precaution of covering their tail-races sustained the least amount of injury ; but the , greater number of the claims arc filled up. and ' the river runs over them.— ,4rrott' A4vocak.