THE FLOODS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 774, 16 February 1877, Page 3

THE FLOODS.

The whole of last week’s Dunedin papers contain details of the damage caused by the late heavy rains, which appear to have been general throughout the Middle Island. The amount of damage done it is scarcely possible to estimate, but some slight idea may be formed of'the immense destruction of property from the fact that on the Taioti Plai alone, the loss is estimated at L 50,000. A valuable life was also sacrificed on the Taieri, that of Mr R. Borrie, who was drowned whilst attempting the rescue of a family who were in imminent peril. In the City of Dunedin, the effect was to inundate the whole of the low lying ground to the depth of feet, flooding out warehouses and cellars, destroying and damaging all kinds of property, causing heavy land slips, and ir two oases, carrying away bodily houses. Traffic on the Port Chalmers and Clutha railways has been stopped, and it is not probable that repairs will be effected for some time, as the damage done is land slips, and in some places the wholesale washing a way of the roadway, the damage to bridges also is very extensive. At Port Chalmers the loss will fall heavily on some few, slips of earth actually falling upon and crushing houses into atoms. From Waipora we hear that the Sludge or Drainage Channel, executed during the past year at a cost of some L 12.000 is entirely destroyed, it being filled up level with the surface. Some idea of the extent of damage done in the Taieri district may he gleaned from the following extract from the Star “ A party left Waihola on Wed nesday for the purpose of rendering any assistance in their power in the saving of life and property. First of all they made their way to Sinnott’s Island, in the Lake, where they found a number of cattle up to their necks in water. They then went to other islands in the Lake, and over the Henley estate. They were able to take their boat over all the fences, and one of the party told us a melancholy story of ruined crops of wheat and oats. Near each fence were hundreds of dead sheep, and here and there the bodies of drowned cattle were to be seen floating about. The boat, which was pulled across from the Lake to the bar of M'Kegg’s hotel, was then taken right over to Outram, over crops'and fences, without the slightest difficulty, and we are informed that the depth of the water averaged from four to five feet. Nearly all the cattle in that part of the country must; have been drowned. Finding that they could render no assistance, the crew made the best of their way back to Waihola, reaching that place about midnight. The water in Lake Waihola rose to the level of the floor of the jetty at Messrs Reid and Douglass’s sawmill, and the Taieri Plain was said to have the appearance of a large lake. It was found necessary to place a lot of timber on the Waihola jetty to prevent the rising water from lifting off the flooring Thu) sday the water had only gone down a foot. The Loader says At the Clutha there does not seem, however, to have been so very much flooding, except upon InchClutha, which has suffered dreadfully. On Wednesday the lower half of the island was completely under water, in many places to a depth of three or four feet. It was noticed on Tuesday afternoon that the river was just level with the banks on Mr Anderson’s property, opposite the lower reserve. During the night it had gone over, filled up the lagoon at Balmoral, and flowed down the Island, flooding to a greater or loss extent the properties of Mrs Eowler, Mr Peter Lawson, &c. The lower portion of the Island was gradually flooded by back-w T ater. Messrs Kinness and M’Gawn had to clear out and leave everything to the mercy ot the water. Mr Wright had only about two acres clear, and Mr Mosley had 400 or 500 acres under water. The properties of Messrs Smaill, Bell, Hervcy, Dickson, and others

were very much covered, and considering the extent and strength of crop in that quarter of the Island, tho damage must be very great. In the Canterbury Province tho damage to tho crops is said to bo extensive, and it is expected tho wheat will come into tho market sprouted, in which case a low price will rule for flour. From Oamaru, Waitaki, and in fact all through tho country, the North Island included, netvs is heard of heavy rains and floods, destroying crops and live stock. There is, therefore, every prospect of every description of produce realising this season almost famine prices. Already, holders of last year’s grain are quoting rates in some instances 50 per cent,, and and mothers 100 per cent in advance of What they were ten days ago.