HEAVY FLOODS AT TIMARU.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 803, 18 January 1877, Page 3

HEAVY FLOODS AT TIMARU.

[By Telegraph ]

(From a correspondent of the Press.) Timaru, January 17

The heavy rains on the hills has flooded the river, causing great damage in a large area of low-lying country. The train which left Timaru at a quarter to 5 last night, did not get any farther than the North Rang!tata, owing to the inqury that had been caused to the line by the flood. The passengers, therefore, had to remain there all night. The country in the vicinity of the Opibi river was inundated during last night in many places to a depth of five or six feet, and the railway on the levels was injured greatly. In one place, near the Seadown Estate, about twenty chains of the line was washed clean away. Here the railway line had been lifted off the bank, and deposited about twenty feet from its original position. A special train left Timaru this morning with a gang of workmen, and as the flood had subsided considerably by the time they reached the injured part of the line, a commencement was at once made with the repairs. It is expected that communication will be temporarily restored by to-morrow. Between Sutherland’s and the Cave, on the Opawa Branch Railway, a breach of over twelve chains was made in the line. The crops on either side of the Opihi River for several miles have suffered greatly, and so also have the fences. At Pleasant Point, a man who was trying to lend assistance to some people whose land was flooded, nearly got drowned this morning through a hedge washing away that he was crossing. Several people had to escape from their dwellings through windows, and a good deal of live stock has been drowned. The approaches to theOpihiroad bridge, on the north side ~were washed away last night, and it is feared the bridge is broken in the centre, Several houses were flooded in the township of Temuka, and some people had to swim for their lives. The Waibi River was overflowing and large quantities of debris, consisting of cut grain, live fences, timber and dead animals have collected in various spots. In the line of the overflow of the Opihi and in many places, great devastation has been caused. Owing to the generally flooded state of the country, and consequently the difficulty of travelling, it has , been impossible to ascertain individual losses, but in some places the flood was more severe thaq the memorable one of 1868,