FURTHER FLOOD INTELLIGENCE

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1443, 1 October 1878, Page 3

FURTHER FLOOD INTELLIGENCE

[By Telegbaph.]

[PBOM THE COBBESPONDENT OP THE PEESfI.]

TIMARU DISTRICT. Timabtt, September 30. There was a heavy parching nor’-wester again to-day. The Waitaki river rose rapidly from Saturday to this morning, when it flooded the plains to south. It is now running in an ugly yellow stream half a mile wide. The railway bridge is standing splendidly. It is known that about 2000 sheep, 100 cattle, and a number of horses are drowned by the flood. Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Country rose suddenly on Saturday night by the melting of the glaciers, and the rivpr Tekapo swamped Cowan’s Hotel at the embouchure from the Lake, forcing Cowan and family to take to the hills. Pukaki and Ohau Lakes and rivers also burst their bounds, and sent vast volumes of water down the Waitaki, of which they are tributaries. The Waitaki rose fourteen feet in seven hours. When the last train crossed the Rangitata to night it was again rising rapidly, and the repairs to the broken span will in all probability be carried away again. OTAGO. [pee pbess agency.] Cromwell, September 29, 5 p.m. The flood was renewed by the rain last night, and there has been awful destruction of property. Horses, cattle, houses, and furniture have been drifting past all day. The Clyde, Bannockburn, and Bendigo bridges have gone. The Cromwell bridge is just safe unless the flood increases; the water is level with the top of the piers. No lives are reported lost, but communication is interrupted in every direction. The dwellings on block 9, Cromwell, are in imminent danger. Roxbubgii, September 29, 5 p.m. The river has been rising all day. About half-past three a portion of the Clyde bridge came in contact with the Roxburgh bridge, causing it to show signs of giving way. About this time the river rose more rapidly, and the space under the arch was closing up, causing the bridge to catch a large quantity of timber coming down stream. At four o’clock the bridge broke in the centre, going away like a large ship. Everything possible was done that could bo thought of by the towspeoplc to save the bridge. There was a very heavy fall of rain. Although it looked bad all day, the weather has been fine. A man named Phillip Mylrea, while in the act of removing his belongings out of his house, which was in danger of being flooded, dropped dead. Alexandba, September 29bh, 5 p.m. We had a tremendous flood to-day. The Cluthg is seven feet higher than the greatest height reached cn Thursday, and is still rising. The water is just touching Theyer’s store. Considerable alarm is felt for the safety of the township. The river is covered with wreck of all descriptions. The wreck of Clyde bridge passed here at 11 30 a.m. Dunedin, 8 p.m. Eresh telegrams from the country confirm the accounts of the great damage done by the floods.

The Dunedin train to day cotild not proceed beyond Lovell's Flat, in consequence of the rise of the Kaitangata Lakes. Four miles of railway were under water at noon. No deaths are reported so far.