Disastrous Floods

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 133, 5 December 1893, Page 2

Disastrous Floods

LOSS OF LIFE. (PEE FBESB ASSOCIATION.) Thames, Deo. 4. An unprecedented^ heavy rainfall, accompanied, it is believed, by a waterspout, burst over the town, and con* tinned to pour with extraordinary violence for several hours. Great damage was caused in the town, business places and residences being inundated, bridges carried out to sea, and property ruined. The whole length of Polien street was like a river rendering traffic impossible. The county main race has broken in three places. The damage is estimated at several thousands of pounds. This Day. The whole of Ghahamstown was from 12 inches to 4 feet under water. The principal streets are strewn with timber, boulders, and debris. Napieb, This Day. Never within the history of Hawke's Bay has such devastation been wrought as by the floods consequent on the heavy rain which has been falling since Friday. Napier is free ot damage, but Clive and Meanee ar« nothing but one huge mass of .water. Hayfields, potatoes, and crops in general have all met the same fate, and the farmers are now sailing about in boats at Meanee. The scene is saddening and pitiable in the extreme. The residents there had an anxious time last nighc. j People left their homes, and sought higher ground. The Meanee river bank gave way in five places at nine o'clock last night, causing a perfect rush of water over the flat locality. At Clive things are just as bad, and boats hare been despatched to render assistance. The tram cannot run further than Clive, as all railway traffic on the Napier line is completely stopped to-day. It is not known yet whether there has been any loss or life, but it is feared a great ! many cattle were drowned at Te Aute. | The road is blocked by slips for half a mile. A portion of the Omahu bridge was washed away, and reports from Hast* I ings state that five men upon the Omahu | bridge were intending to place their camp on it, but finding it shaking leaped back in time. The river is above tbe floor of the railway bridge at Whakatu.and fears are entertained for its safety. The only i part of Hastings which is flooded is that connected with the drain mouth, which blocked by the river. Hastings, Dec. 4. It has been raining continuously for several days, and all the low- lying parts of tbe town are several feet under water. The rivers are running bank high, and serious results are feared if the ram continues. A suspension bridge at Maraekakaho collapsed to-day throwing fire men into the river. It is believed that two are drowned. Two others are supposed to be on an island a mile down the stream, aud one has been rescued. A great part of the railway traffic has been suspended. Wellington, This Day. The weather for some days has been cold and wet. More rain has fallen already than during the whole of last month. On Friday night, tho Ist of December, 4 inches fell. To-day it is wet and squally again. The Superintendant of Telegraphs has received information that two 60« feet spans of the Waipawa railway bridgo were washed away at 8.25 last night, also three chains of the embankment of the railway line.