FEILDING UNDER WATER.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 35, 4 September 1884, Page 2

FEILDING UNDER WATER.

Yesterday morning there was by far tlie heaviest flood in Feilding that has occurred since the township has existed. Early in the afternoon of Tuesday the rain commenced to fall heavily, and continued to do so without any abatement till shortly before daylight yesterday ' morning. The rain, which of itself waa sufficient to cause a considerable rise in the streams, must evidently have melted the snow upon the ranges, the result being, as we have said, a flood of an unprecedented character. A large number of the inhabitants awoke to find their dwellings entirely surrounded by water, and all means of egress cut away. The

The neighborhoods where the flood most prevailed were -Denbigh, North, Grey, Manchester, Warwick, Queen, Ferguson, Eyre and Russell streets, and Kiuibolton road. The latter, from the railway Hue to near Mr Slierwill's residence, and especially at Manchester Square, presented the appearance of a miniature sea, and the shops, stores, Hastie's hotel, and other buildings were enough to remind one of what the Swiss lake dwelling must have been. The Vulcan Shoeing Forge was at least two feet under water. Access to the Bank of Australasia, and to Messrs J. C. . Thompson's, Criehton's, Cottrell's, Pollock's, Stevens', Svendsen's, London's, Rees', Whisker's, Hnstie's Youne's, Lee's, Parr's and Dr Johnston's establishments could only be had through a considerable depth of water, until temporary bridg s had been erected, as was done in most cases. The approaches to the Railway Station and Post Office, both by way of Kimbolton road and Fergusson street, were also under water, and passengers to and from there had to.be conveyed in vehicles. The residences of the Station and Post Masters were also surrounded by water, while some other residents had to leave heir dwellings, as they were rendered for the time uninhabitable by the intrusion of the water to- their interior. Very many gardens were flooded, and the labor and expense of much planting and sowing for the season rendered entirely abortive. This was particularly so in some of the streets above mentioned. In some cases gardening was one of the principal sources of livelihood to the owners of the properties, to whom the loss must therefore be considerable. The waters did their greutest havoc in Warwick street, where a wooden bridge, which was considered a substantial structure, crossed the Makino. This was swept down wholesale by the force of the current, and. carried clean away down the stream, thus of course entirely stopping the through traffic of the street The Manchester street bridge also suffered some damage, and sank several inches in the middle, rendering it unsafe for any but foot or very light traffic. The farms on the south side of Feilding were a good deal flooded, and we believe some of the occupiers suffered considerable losses, especially in lambs.