THE FLOODS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 927, 14 June 1877, Page 2

THE FLOODS.

As stated in yesterday's issue, the recent nor'-wester had the effect of flooding all the large rivers in Canterbury, causing them to overflow their banks and do considerable damage. The railway has, as usual, been a great sufferer. The following are some additional particulars to those published by us yesterday of the damage done to the NORTH LINE. For the second time within this present year the northern railway at Chainey's Corner has been rendered impassable by the flooding of the Waimakariri yesterday. The brief telegrams from Bealey on Thursday to the effect that the river was in flood and rising caused no alarm in Kaiapoi, which is now thoroughly protected, while the weather-wise asserted that the north-wester of the past two days was insufficient, by melting the snow on the ranges, to cause an inundation. The river, however, at 8 a.m. began to rise rapidly. Although the passengers on the morning down train did not observe any prospect of immediate danger to the line at Chainey's, it was discovered soon after the down train was despatched from Kaiapoi that the overflow had spread over the Hats through the sand hills, completely covering the metals for a distance of a chain, near i the bridge, adjacent to the portion washed away at the last February flood. Before 11 a.m. at least three chains length of the ballasting was swept away; the stream, which overflowed from the river at Chainey's, and thence across the North road, making a clear channel through the sand hills in the direction of Mr Fantham's farm. During the day a further length of about two chains of the ballasting was carried away, and the sandy embankment on which the permanent way rests was generally damaged. SOUTH LINE. The accounts received from the South yesterday stated that about a chain and a half of ballasting had been washed away at the southern end of the Rakaia Bridge. The river rose rapidly yesterday, but during night fell as quickly, and, as arrangements were made for trollying passengers over the breach, no .very great, delay in passenger traffic to-day was experienced. Between the Hinds and the Eangatata breaches were also made in the ballasting. LATER PARTICULARS. We learn to-day that every exertion is being made by the Railway Department to make good the damage done, the breaches in the line between the Hinds and the Rangitata have been repaired, and they _ hope to make good the damage at the Rakaia by tonight, so that traffic may be resumed tomorrow morning. This morning the flood in the Waimakariri has also quite subsided, and the North road is now passable, but in places it is covered with six inches of silt. Mails and passengers were forwarded to-day from Chaney's to Kaiapoi by coach. The railway authorities hope to have the line temporarily repaired and open for traffic by Saturday.