DISASTROUS FLOODS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1897, 23 March 1880, Page 2

DISASTROUS FLOODS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

[By Tble&baph.] WELLINGTON, March 22. Heavy rains have caused serious slips on the Wellington and Featheraton railway, which will obstruct traffic for three or four days. In some places the embankment has been carried away, and will take a considerable time to repair. Floods have occurred in the Hutt Hirer, but no damage has yet been done. PALMERSTON NOETH, March 22. A most disastrous flood occurred between Saturday and midday yesterday, and damage amounting to thousands of pounds has been done. The flood could not be the result of rain in the Manawatu, as it has not been raining for twelve hours, but it is supposed to bare been raining up in the ranges for days. The Manawatu River at Palmerston rose 7ft in four hours, overflowed its banks, and screed over the country. The Maoris at Hokowhitu had taken to their canoes. ‘Glenstone farm is completely surrounded by water, which is 6in deep on the verandah of

the house. The inmates, four men and a woman, were imprisoned until five o’clock last evening, when a boat was launched, and after some difficulty, rescued and conveyed them to the Fitzherbert side. There are six feet of water on'the gorge road, and the residents are being taken away in boats. On the Foxton Road all the settlers are flooded out. On the line the rails have been washed away, and sft|of water are covering the line between Jackey Town and Otorua Bridge. On Saturday night, a settler named Sharraa* attempted to escape with his wife and children in a trap. Going along the road, a log struck the wheel, and turned the trap over, the wife being swept away. With great difficulty she was saved, but his little girl, 2 years old, was drowned. The body was recovered this morning in the eido drain. The destruction of property has been something immense, and the Maoris say that they have seen nothing like it for twenty years. The water has gone down considerably since the morning, but it is now raining hard, and fears of further floods are entertained. BLENHEIM, March 23. Heavy rain has fallen during the last three days, overflowing the rivers and flooding the greater part of the town to a depth of several feet. No church services were held yesterday except the Roman Catholic, and to-day business is almost entirely suspended.