DISASTROUS FLOODS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1672, 30 June 1879, Page 3

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

The deluge of rain which set in on Friday night was expected on Saturday evening to be the occasion of some damage, as in several parts of tho country the rainfall was such that tho drains were not adequate to the pressure put upon them. The details, as furnished by our correspondents up to Sunday evening, will prove what a quantity of water has been received by the country. During Friday night and Saturday the rain fell in exceedingly heavy showers, _ and the rain fed rivers were soon fall. The Waipara was nn ford able and the mails detained. The Waimakiriri was low ail day on Saturday, and not expected to rise. In reply to the enquiries of Mr Johnston, postmaster, Kaiapoi, made in the interests of those who feared lest the snow water might also be expected down the Waimakariri, the Bealey telegraphist said: — “ Eivors here are low. Weather calm, overcast and snow.” Unless from the extra supply brought down by the Eyre and the Ohoka drain and Main drain from Flaxton, the Waimakariri did not at this time seam materially affected. KAIAPOI. The full force of the rainfall was felt here. To the east of the borough on Saturday the land known as Rhodes’ Swamp was a perfect sea, covering some hundred acres, and was rising by last accounts so as even then to threaten a little inundation to the part of the town nearest to it. The outfall drain for this swamp passes through the borough, and a network of smaller drains have been made into it without due consideration as to whether the large drain past Mr Hxcks’ farm and Mr Ellen’s house conld carry away the water at a time like this. It has now be‘.n made quite evident that another and larger outlet must be made for the drainage of Rhodes’ Swamp further to the east of the borough, and this ought to be put in hand by the Road Board of tho district, as at any time the Town Council might stop the present drain and declare that it was only intended for tho purposes of tho town. Sewell street and part of Jones street were inundated near Mr C. C. Howard’s residence and the Church of England parsonage. This water also backed along Casa street, and threatened to enter the premises of several of the residents. On Raven quay, the low section on which Monk and Co.’s store stands was flooded, together with two vacant sections adjoining, Pcraki street on both sides was flooded, owing to the insufficient The Ohoka road drain between Akaroa and Otaki streets was full to overflowing, and the water was out on the Ohoka road at Dr. Dudley’s. Mr J, Stanton’s farm, on the other side of the latter road, was also under water. The choking of this drain and flooding hero was to some extent caused by the drainage from the adjoining road district being brought into the Ohoka drain ; and with the two instances referred to, the Borough Council will probably take steps to prohibit the drainage of the suburban districts through the borough. The works committee and foreman of works were busily engaged all day in doing their utmost to lower tho water from the low sections and streets. If the rain had stopped at this time, in a few hours the whole of Kaiapoi would have been quite dry. On Sunday, the neighbourhood surr,unding Kaiapoi was visited by the heaviest flood witnessed since the memorable one of 1868. The rain ceased about midnight on Saturday, and with it the people expected that the floods were over. A strong N.E. gale blew during the night, which kept tho river high, the waves breaking at the swing bridge. On Sunday morning the Council’s works committee gave directions to the workmen, who soon relieved the rain fall from the streets, which before evening were as dry as possible. The river began steadily to rise till noon, bringing down a surging mass of mud and rubbish. At this hour it was within a few inches of the girders, and men were engaged in removing the lodgments against the piles. The Ohoka drain through the island part of the town was backed np by the large body of water in the river and caused some discomfort to the residents on the island affected by it, who had hoped to be relieved _ of the previous day’s experience. Towards evening this drain was declining, and to-day Peraki, Akaroa, Otaki, aud Fuller streets will be free of water. . In consequence of a serious influx _ot water rushing into the Cam, and backing towards the church bush, flooding several of the farms tinro, the embankment in front of the Woollen Company’s works was put to the test. This was found to bo a perfectly useful piece of work, for no sooner did the pressure come than it burst and the water flowed in to the door of the factory. At six o’clock it was not in the lower building. The main portion of tho factory is some feet above the level of the older portion. The water entered the wool shel, but the bales, by the aid of the number of helpers who volunteered, were raised out of harm’s way. Around the brewery and the lower land the residents in several of tho cottages had to ba taken out. They were assisted by persons with drays or spring carts who offered their services. At the end of Charles street a temporary embankment was put up to prevent the flood from this locality reaching the town. Fears were at one time entertained that damage would come to tho town from Hassall’s dd ford, but this was averted by one of the councillors causing another bank to bo erect id. The flood also threatened to enter the island side of the town from near Mr Sneyd’s hou c c, at the end of the Sneyd’s comer embankment, but up to latest advices no damage had been done.

OHOKA AND EYESTON DISTRICTS. Here on Saturday the force of the gale was severely felt, and soma scores of acres of ploughed land were laid under water from the overflow of the Oboka drain and the rainfall together. Near Mr Isaac Wilson’s flour mill the country had the appearance of a large lake, which extended over the adjoining farms, and failed to find an outlet at Mr Dickinson’s mill. Mr Wbitefoord, E.M , saved bis estate from being flooded by erecting a small embankment. The Eyreton railway, alongside the road, which is raised at a high level, escaped being flooded in any way. The main drain through Flaxton, which carries away a large portion of the overflow of the Gust, was bank full, and some of the low lands at Flaxton quite covered. Early on Snnday the quantity of water lying on the former swamp received an unwelcome addition by the overflow of the Eyre, which burst its embankment, and from the overflow of the Oust, which discharges intothethree drains under the control of the Mandeville and Eangiora Board of Conservators. The main drain further broke its banka below Flaxton, and hence a perfect deluge about ten o’clock came over the whole country, extending as far as the eye could reach. Round Wilson’s mill the land was all under water, and the farms of several settlers were submerged to a depth of from 2ft to 3ft. The Ohoka road was covered, and the railway line. A boat had to be employed in getting some of the persons from their houses, as as to remove the debris collected against the mill. At Dickinson’s mill the mill-stream rose abont sft in an hour, and the embankment put up by Mr Wbitefoord was no longer of any service, as his garden and land were quite covered, the sheet of water extending thence to the Drain road, and over the railway line to the Church Bush on the opposite side of the Cam. In this portion of the district a number of cattle and one or two horses were drowned, and the owners of stock were very often in imminent danger in removing them. The water in the north branch of the Waimakariri was up to the girders of the new road bridge, while the concrete abutments of the smaller bridge nearer Flaxton were in danger of being undermined by the current. The flood here extended along the Northern railway tor some miles in the direction of Sonthbrook. The deepest part of the flood across the farms extended in width from the Flaxton crossing to the a distance of over two miles. The Drain road later in the day was not passable. The road to Ohoka was passable with difficulty. The roads beyond to Mandeville were open.

OXFOED. This township was on Saturday almost free from any deluge from the rain, and the railway lines to Kaiapoi and Eangiora were both open, but the latter was flooded between Bennett’s and Gust, and between Stoke and Femside, so as to cause tie engine-driver to use every caution.

EANGIORA. The rainfall on Saturday was so heavy here that High street was almost entirely flooded!. The gaily through the borough, which formed the foundation of the Bassingthwaite lawsuit, was mere flooded than has ever been known. At the Junction Hotel the cellar was flooded, and Mr Good’s property inundated to a great depth, so that the water began to flow into the store. The lower end of the street was a perfect sea, and, although a drain was cut to give relief, the effect was only temporary, and towards evening the accumulation of water was as great as ever, and the only means ®f locomotion was by boat. Yesterday afternoon, our correspondent at Bangiora telegraphed : —The flood was at its height at one this morning. It has quite subsided now. The Ashley is going down rapidly. ASHLEY AND SEFTON DISTRICTS. In these districts on Saturday, the creeks and water courses were put to the 'utmost test. Round the Ashley township, the water lay in vast sheets, and it will take some days to get away. The roads past the business places were flooded, and access to the railway was only gained by wading through water about eighteen inches deep. Near Saltwater Creek, the river spread out on to much of the adjoining land, and the north approach to the bridge was inundated for some considerable distance. The low land at Sefton was covered to a depth of from six laches to two feet, and the streams on both sides of the road indicated the quantity of rain which had fallen. The entrance to this railway station was only through a small mountain torrent. Many of the farmers here have found to their sorrow that too much rain is quite as serious a matter to them as too little.

GENERAL. The South Waimakariri was quite low. Late last evening the north branch was draining the country in a magnificent manner. During Sunday there were large numbers of people out in vehicles and on [horseback, as well as on foot, to observe the effect of the floods. AMBERLEY AND DISTRICT. Our Amberley correspondent telegraphed last night : —■ The largest flood that has occurred here for eleven years, according to the statements of old settlers, took place yesterday. All Friday night and Saturday there was a continual and heavy downpour of rain. The creek running through the town rose to such an extent as to completely invest several houses, notably Higgins’ bakeMKfMcAdam’s butchery, and also the police stablßß? all of which places were only to be approached by wading knee deep. The North road from Mr D. Brown’s (which was entirely submerged) down by the front of McLean’s Hotel, whose cellar was fell, and Bonn’s stove, was an entire sheet of water, which stretched even as far down as Dr. Morris’ residence. The North Kowai was in high flood, but not so high as might have been expected considering the state of the other portions of the district. The Kowai at Leithfield was very high, and broke through into the village, entering White and Co.’s store on Saturday night to the depth of several inches. Mr Thomas James Farmer and his family, who live down towards the beach, had to leave their house and take refuge in Leithfield. The new railway formation, across what is known as McDonald’s swamp, on the North road towards Waipara, was nearly washed away, and the drain pipes were of no avail whatsver, taking not a tithe of the water. The evening train from Amberley, after reaching about midway between Balcnirn and Softon, had to return in consequence of the line being submerged south of Balcairn, where about eight sleepers were dislodged, and the embankment washed away. There was also a breach at Grey’s road. The station-master and plate-layers proceeded at 5 a.m. this (Sunday) morning on a trolly to the scene of the breaches, and they were promptly repaired by 11 a.m., and the line is now in a safe state for a resumption of traffic tomorrow. The Wa’para was also running very high and rapidly. The storekeeper who is serving the Government workmen found it impossible to ford the river, and was compelled to return with his load, as also was the mail coach. The weather here today (Sunday) is very fine and mild, and the creeks and rivers are as rapidly subsiding as yesterday they arose. Many of the cal verts in the township are found to be quite destroyed. The footbridge across the North Kowai has suffered to a great extent, being broken in two places and quite unsafe for traffic. It is quite severed in one of the breaches, where part .of it fell with a crash this evening. Mr Chandler has again taken his extra lead of bread, meat, and groceries towards the N aipara to-day, with a determination to use every reasonable exei iion to cross.

THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT. DAMAGE TO THE EAILTTAT. Our Ashburton correspondent telegraphed last night:— The heavy rain of Friday and Saturday raised the rivers considerably. At 11.30 a.m. to-day the station master at Ashburton received news from Chertsey that about twenty chains of tho lino had been swept away. He immediately sent an engine, with which went Sub-inspectgr Ennis and a gang of men, and they were bushy employed repairing damage to-day. News was also received from Tinwald, “Winslow, and South Eangitata, stating that some of the line near Tinwald was a dangerous state ; that between Winslow and Hinds some twenty or thirty chains had gone, and that the line near the Eangitata bridge had carried away in tho old place on the Orari side. Mr Pilkington, with a gang of men, took an engine and went to Tinwald, where tho damage was repaired. They then proceeded on to Winslow, where up to 5 p.m. on Sunday they were working along the line south repairing all damages as they go. At 4 p.m. the officer in charge here received a telegram from Ealing, stating that about half a mile of the permanent way was more or less damaged, and from Orari saying half a mile of line was under water.

The Eakaia and Selwyn were both high. On Saturday night the latter was three feet over the ford.

The Ashburton was higher than for many years at 8 a m. to-day, but fell considerably towards the afternoon.

A special train was despatched to Timarn from Christchurch on Saturday. It passed through Ashburton at 7.10 p.m., taking Messrs Blackett and Lowe South. The engineer was to return immediately on their arrival, but has not yet come back, showing that at midnight on Saturday the lino must have been impassable. The flood appears to have been entirely a rain one, little or no snow having come down from the hills.

Later in the evening the following was received from Ashburton Sub-Inspector Ennis has returned from the North. He reports the Eakaia bridge all right. Owing to the water on the lino at Chertsey aad Selwyn, it will be impossible to repair the line till mid-day to-morrow. Mr Pilkington has also returned from tho South. He repaired the damages as far as the Hinds bridge, though the river was bank and hank. The bridge is all right, but beyond for four miles the line is impassable, some of the gaps being very bad ones. The damage don* is so general, and this being Sunday, it has been so difficulty to get men, that tho repairs have been delayed. Both the Inspector of Permanent Way and Mr Pilkington deserve the thanks of the public for the energy they have shown.