FULL TO THE BRIM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2367, 25 January 1915, Page 6

FULL TO THE BRIM

BURSTING OF THE BLUFF RESERVOIR OVER SIX MILLION GALLONS LET LOOSE TERRIFYING TORRENT (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Invercarglll, January 23. When tho Blulf Harbour Board's reservoir burst it was lull to tho brim, as a result of over three inches of rain falling during the previous twenty-four hours. Over (5,U0(J,000 gallons swept through Western Blulf, doing thousands of pounds' worth of damage. There wero several narrow escapes, Mrs. Bullar being caught and knociied about before being rescued. Tho reservoir is situated at an altitude of 300 feet at tho back of tho town, and a terrifying torrent swept down the gully and flooded every house across a width of 200 yards. Tho deluge came with ail awe-inspiring roar thid; sent people to their doors, and they escaped in the nick of timo. A wall of water .six feet high raced through tho residences. Mr. J. Stalker's six-roomed house was completely wrecked, and the residences of Messrs. M'Lean, Burtenshaw, Bullar, • Denuott, Fry, and Hunter wero seriously damaged, and the furniture ruined. Mrs. Bullar attempted to save some valuables, and was carried away Ly tho Hood, but was rescued by Trooper Waddel in a bruised condition. Tho water tore huge gaps in the noith side of tho cricket ground, and inundated the bowling green, which is covered with silt. It then passed through Hankiuson's foundry, J. G. Ward's grain stores, where it backed up 6ft., and thence over the railway yard into tho harbour. Tho flood continued to pour down like a sluice for an hour. Tho loss to the occupiers is irreparable. Ward and Co. suffered most. Part of an iron store at the uack was twisted right round, and 1000 sacks of oats and 100 bales of gunnies were rendered practically worthless. The loss is estimated at £3000. At Mill and Co.'s a platform was just high enough to save several thousands of pounds' worth of wool and hemp, a!xmt 1000 sacks grain, and a quantity of gunnies. Summed up, the loss and damage, including tho cost of rebuilding the' reservoir wall, varies between £10,000 and £12,000. Fifteen private houses wore damaged, seven seriously, and the bowling green will bo unplayable for the rest of the season. Tho wall of the reservoir was raised somo months ago, and the soil had not set. The port is now without water for either fire or shipping purposes.