THE LATE FLOODS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1454, 14 October 1878, Page 3

THE LATE FLOODS.

THE WAIMAKARIRI. The effects of the flood on Friday night and Saturday morning on the North road from Treleaven's to Kaiapoi were more marked than on any previous occasion. The highest point was touched between 4 and 5 a.m. of Saturday. At this time it had reached very nearly np to the top of the terrace on Mr Treleaven's section, where it had never been on any previous occasion. Beyond this the river rushed across the road two or three feet deep, covering the so ition opposite the hotel, and backing up against the railway line. Nearer to Christchurch the river worked out a new line, coming in at Tisch's corner, near what is known as the seventy acre paddock, through two paddocks which were under water, on to a section _ formerly owned by Mr Wilson, upon which is a cottage. In front of this the water gradually collected, and rose on Saturday to about j,even inches deep in the kitchen. The water broke through the fences, and formed a broad stream across the North road and into the paddocks opposite the Meat Preserving Works. The paddocks being of large extent and pretty high, the water did not do much damage. On Saturafternoon the sight, though melancholy from the damage caused to the farms of settlers, was yet a grand one. As far as the eye could reach the river, swollen to a perfect sea, was rushing furiously down, carrying with it an immense quantity of debris. At the corner opposite Treleaven's the North road was submerged to about three or four feet deep, thus entirely stopping any traffic. At the now historic Chaney's Corner there was left but a very small spot of dry land, upon which Mr Chaney's live stock had collected. The water reached into the house, and at one time it was feared that it would have to be abandoned. Near the semaphore opposite Chaney's, on the railway line, a ruskinf river ran over the railway line and spread away beyond into the paddocks. Further north still, at the Bridge Hotel the water swept away all the gravel and coil placed in front of the house and flowed underneath it, scouring away all the earth, and leaving the house standing in the midst of a turbulent flood, Fortunately Mr Smith had taken the precaution to place his house on piles, so that beyond havincr the water into the house a little, no damage was done to the building. The land adjoining has, however, suffered very severely, for not only is it covered to some depth with sand and other debris, but the force of the current lias ploughed holes seven or eight feet deep in the land. Some idea may thus be formed <>f the power of iho flood. On the island the water did immense damage, nearly every farm suffered more or less, and in some eases there has been three or four fret of sand deposited on the grass paddocks, thus entailing very heavy losses on the farmer?. The flood readied Eyreton and Kaiapoi district about 4 a.m. on Saturday. It swept with terrific force down the Kaiapoi Tsland, and the overflow ran on to adjacent farms. '1 lie North road was about four feet under water, and the railway at Stewart's flooded to the depth of five feet, with a strong current in that channel. The country nil round there was under water, and the main river was to within eighteen inches of the girders of the railway bridge. A proof of the strain on ifc—possibly duo to a part of the groin being washed against it-was given by tha fact tiat one or two braces in the upper pnrt were broken. No material injury however was done to the bridge. The force of the stream begun to shew itcelf against the embankment at the east end of Charles street, and the Mayor had the fire bell rung, which brought forth such a body of volunteers with spades, drays, and barrows, that within an hour several tons of material were thrown up and the danger of a breach averted, the embankment keeping the river quite out of

the town. Towards noon, the flood was railing, but there had been no communication south of Kaiapoi, except by telegraph, and the papers and mails were detained. Several attempts were made to get through the flood, and towards 3 p.m. on Saturday two gentlemen managed to pass along the North road from Christchurch, and the two copies of Saturday's PbbSS containing so many important telegrams were eagerly perused. The railway telegraph was down during part of the day, but was repaired by Mr Johnston, the postmaster. The pressure on the telegraph office was very great indeed. From the appearance of the hills on Saturday evening, and the fact that the nor'wester still continued, it was anticipated that still more damage would bo done. Fortunately, however, this was not the case, the flood falling with as great rapidity as it rose. By daylight yesterday morning the river had returned almost to its normal condition, though hero and there vast tracts of standing water were observable. Now that the water has receded the extent of damage done is observable in the tons of silt, sand, and other debris, which has been brought down and deposited on the land. Yesterday there was a constant traffic on the North road from daylight. As to the damages to the line, there is a breach at Stewart's, where the line was covered over for a wider distance than on the occasion of the last flood. On Irishman's Flat there are three large breaches in the newlyformed embankment upon which the line was raised, and strong currents ran under the sleepers about 6ft. in depth. A number of workmen and ballast trains are on the spot ready for repairs so soon as the water subsides sufficiently to allow of this being done, and the work of restoring the through traffic will be pushed forward as speedily a» possible. Now that an opportunity is afforded for closer examination, it is seen that, in addition to the damage to the diagonal braces of the railway bridge in two places, two piles in the centre have been carried clean away. It is supposed that some detached timber from the groin above got lodged here, and the pressure on the piles forced them out. Yesterday a serious scour set into the cast end of Charles street, and the Mayor, councillors, and a large party of volunteers were engaged all day mooring trees with wire along the the bank. Had this not been done it is feared the river would have gone right into Ellen's woolworks. On Saturday evening Mr Alexander drove a three-horse waggon along the road with passengers and mails, leaving at G. 15, and arriving at Christchurch at 9, returning to Kaiapoi OB Sunday morning. About four miles of the road was under water. The mails from Christchurch were sent by train to Sheffield, and were intended to reach Oxford in time for the evening train, but they cannot now come to hand till Monday. Two ineffectual efforts were made to forward the newspapers. On Saturday an arrangement was made between our agent and the Kaiapoi postmaster, to place a boat at Stewart's crossing, but as the water was through the line on Irishman's Flat that had to be abandoned. The damage done_ on some of the farms is very great, the land being washed away and grain damaged. It is expected a public meeting will be held in reference to protective measures, and the appointment of a Board of Conservators. Our Amberley correspondent telegraphs that no mails or newspapers reached Amberley On Saturday. THE SOUTHERN RIVERS. Our Timaru correspondent telagraphs as follows, under date of yesterday : —The Waitaki yesterday was two feet higher than at la*t flood. It burst its banks in several places, flooding the country, and causing the settlers to desert their houses. Just above the railway bridge, which is standing nobly, the stream is nearly a mile wide, with an average depth of from twelve to fifteen feet. Great loss of live stock has again occurred owing to the enormous collection of water in Lakes Ohau, Pukaki and Tekapo, in the Mackenzie country. There is no chance of the river falling to its natural level for some weeks to come. The Opihi and Orari rivers have gone down very much.