SERIOUS FLOODS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1490, 26 June 1905, Page 3

SERIOUS FLOODS.

GREAT DAMAGE DONE, S\(Pas. Press Association.)' Groymouth, Saturday. -< v »c/ v rains for the past 12 hours have'-produced high floods. The firebell rang hero at 4.30 a.m. to warn inhabitants that the rivor had risen. From then till now it came oyer fcho uhatf. The business portion of the town is already flooded. I& is raining heavily in the country, and the ■*- river is still risiug. Tho position looks V- very serious. Hok'tika, Saturday. Continuous rain yesterday culminate! in a big flood in tho town early this moaning. When tho tide was in all the lowlying places were under wuter, but beyond discomfort to the occupants uo material damage was done. In tho country roads and tracks generally were damaged. One wire bridge was washed asvay, and the northern approach to tho Toremakau bridge was washed out. The Montezuma dredge, outside tho town boundary, was Bunk during the night. The rain has now ceased, and ,the flood waters are rapidly * subsiding. A slip on tho railway line has interrupted traffic. Further particulars of tho flood damage show that Hungerford’s bridge, Upper Arahura, was seriously injured, one pior being washed oat. Other bridges were damaged in the Kanieri district. Telegraphic communication with the South has been cut off. Owing to the blocking of the railway line by slips, etc,, all trains to-day have been oancoiled. Wellington, Saturday. A strong northerly gale blew hero last evening, the heaviest for years. A number of fences wore blown down, but otherwise little damage was done. A very heavy downfall of rain accompanied the gale, 3.73 inches falling during tho 24 hours ended at 1 o’clock this morning. The tram service has been disorganised somewhat by the gale. In one part of the city two large telegraph poles oamo down. Tho wires fell across tho tramway cables, interrupting traffic on the route for some hours.

Tha Secretary lo the Postal Department has received the following telogram from the Chief Postmaster Greymouth 10 a.m.—Tha flooded rivers are steadily rising, aud reports from Ahaura are not -Promising. The wafer is flowing over the into the town, and the lower parts fare flooded ont. People are being removed ■'in boats and carts. There is no news from the country at present. Kailway trains are stuck np owing to wash-outs. There will be no traffic or mails to-day. Water surrounds the post office. If it enters it will probably “ earth ” the office connections and out us oS for a time.” Christchurch, Saturday.

The rivers Achley and Waimakariri are in flood. The Ashley overflowed its banks below the railway bridge, and inundated the lowlands towards Sefton. The Waimakariri has not been so high for years, and railway traffic is delayed. The floods were caused by torrents of rain on the North Canterbury hills and by the meltiDg of Boon on the ranges. The gale in midCanterbury blow down many telegraph poles, and telegraph communication south of Rakaia has been interfered with.

TRAFFIC BY ROAD AND RAIL INTERFERED WITH.

(Per Press Association.)

Christchurch, last night.

Thera is a very heavy flood io the Waimakariri, and at Stawart’e Gully, a few miles from Kaiapoi, the flood waters appeared, to be nearly as high as those of the flood of 1887. Masses of debris were being caught by the bridge piles, and before the interruption to railway traffic trains travelled over the structure very oautiously. At the Empire road bridge the water was so high that communication by road was imprac ticable. Much of tho country near the river is under water.

FURTHER NEWS FROM ASHBURTON. (Per Preaa Association.! AshburtoD, Saturday night. Owing lo tho north-west gate melting the snow on the hills toe Ashburton and Rakaia rivers are in heavy flood.- In some places they overflowed the banks and inundated the countryside. The telegraph lines are down ' north and south of Ashburton. For nearly two days traffic has been interrupted on the Metbven line, the train being stuck up at Lyndhurst through a wash-out. • The south bound express ran off the metals near RaDgitata on Saturday, but no damage was done. The attendance at the,winter show was small owing to the flooded state of the country.

WORST FLOODS EXPERIENCED.

FIVE FEET OF WATER IN MAIN STREET. ENORMOUS DAMAGE DONE. DREDGE AND TWO MEN CARRIED OUT TO SEA.

(Per Press Association.) Greyrooutb, Saturday night. To-day will be remembered in Greymouth oa the occasion of one of the largest floods ever experienced. We hove bad the “ Old Mon flood,” the “ Jubilee flood, and the “ Record Roign flood,” but none of them equalled tbe one that swept today Yesterday, for 36 hours on, roin fell incessantly, and reports from the country districts showed that the rivers were rising. Everyone expeoted a flood eai'ly in the evening, but at 4 o’clock in the morning, two hours after high tide, the fears were set at rest. At that hour the water was two feet off tbo wharf, and at 5 30 a.m . without much warning, the river rose and overflowed into tbß town. Fire hells rung out the alarm, aod business people turned out and packed what stuff they could before the water gained upon them. At 7 o’clock the town was completely nnder water, the stream tearing and rushing down the principal facets- with great was almost impossible to keep one s feet against the current. Boats and willing hands quickly got to work, and rescued people in the lower quarters, many of whom were on tables. - were bsx boats &P tj?o wharf, and „ - 4 - , **n anxiou3 fcitno. thoy bau a g if the Kamona At 000 titUb j.Jjq YQggßls WOCO would go to sortj . tkVx a force, tagging at the wharf w*. fear 3 were entertained fcbaS would collapse. It was difficult to tell where the river started, or the wharf ended. All was one sea of water. ; , Bushing over tbe wharf to the business places in Mnwhera Quay, the principal business street, tbe water was fully hvo feet deep, and iu Tainni street and Mockay street four feet At the post offico tho water was over

throo feet, but tho operators stuck to their W Boats were plying all over tbo town, and horses, traps, etc., wore engaged in the ro3ouow<rk. . , , , From every eonosivablo point shadow cameras were at work and some excellent Tbe scene can scarcely be described, for where a few hoars before men walked with perfect safety on tbo asphalt footpath, it had bocorne a raging stream. Mon walking about would be soon to

suddenly disappear, and on coming to the surface found they had fallen into a hole ont in the road by the raging torrent, t From Upper Mawbera quay tho scene 'presented a huge, bowling stream, with shops bnried for a depth of three or foul feet in its midst. , About 11 o’clock the Council organised a shovel brigade, and efforts were made to cut a gap from the lagoon, so as to let the water have acoess to the sea, and so relievo the town. , This, unfortunately, did not have much pffeot. CJotil about 6 o’clock the watet i 4 c* mained stationary, and then began to oonci , ote tl - a i D j D g wall had not been constructed the flood would have bad

I a more disastrous offoct. As it is, tho I damago will bo very considerable, but tho I extent cannot bo ascertained until tho I flood water leaves the town. I Reports from the country show that I groat, and serious damage has boon done. I All railway communication was suspended by wash-outs and four bridges being carried away. Settlers throughout tho valley lost nearly all their stock. I Twelve valuable horses grazing on the racecourse were drowned. One farmer, named Merritt, near Coal Creek, lost all his live stook. It is reported that the Greenstone dredge broke away with two men The Teremakau bridgo is said to bo washed away, besides many other reports that cannot bo confirmed this evening. FLOODS IN MARLBOROUGH.

(Per Press Association.) Blenheim, last night. Eoports wete received on Saturday of floods in portions of tho Polorous, Wokamarina, and Kaituna districts. Considerable damago was done to roads and bridges, and coach traffic was interrupted. It is feared that there has been much loss of stock.

Part of Tuamarina distriot was inundated by an overflow from tho Wairau river.

OTHER REPORTS. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, last night. Floods on tho Methven line at Lydhurßt yesterday caused a temporary suspension to railway traffic. ,

‘‘THE PREMIER” FLOOD. SUN SHINES ON SCENE OF DESOLATION.

OLD MAN CARRIED OUT TO SEA Per Press Association. Greymouth, last night. About eight o’clock on Saturday evening the flood began to recede, and by ten o’olock the water was off the main streets. Sunday morning broke fine and bright. The sun seemed to mock the desolate surroundings. The principal streets resembled a river bed, gravel being piled up feet high on the street pavements. The railway lines on the wharf were lifted on to the middle of the street. Largo holes were dug out, one being sufficient to bury a horse and cart in.

The shops presented a terrible sight,mud and slush being inches deep. All day the work of clearing has been carried out. All employees with buokets and brooms were kept hard at it. The streets are practically ruined and in Boundary street the holes are very large, boxes, tanks, barrels and debris of all kinds lying about the street. Reports from the country are contradictory, and until railway and telegraphic communications are restored it is impossible to state the real extent of thejdamage done.

One old age pensioner residing on the bank of the Teremakau river went out to sea in bis hnt

It is reported that the Fernflat dredge on the Buller got away with two men on board.

The damage to stock at Coal Creek is not so serious as at first thought. One settler, however, estimates his loss at £l5O.

There were many narrow escapes, but with the exception of those on the dredge and the old age pensioner, no fatal cases are reported.

The flood is considered the severest experienced here, and the damage to railways, roads and bridges, will be considerable.

The flood has been named 11 The Premier” flood of 1905.

Ju->t as the water was leaving the town the fire bells rang out an alarm, and there was great exoitement. Tho fire took place in Oobden in an unoccupied, house. Tho brigade under difficulties went across to Cobden and assisted.

To-day thousands of people are inspecting the destruction. •