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Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 198, 20 April 1867, Page 2

THROUGH THE spur at hokitika. " Ao Jong anticipated b^as at length >v* * nc now runs through .^mder what fifteen months ago a & c rt m^uy buildings, ivthe gigantic "bond," known as The change which a twenty - hours' flood has effected in the appearof the river and spit is truly wonderful, although prepared for the " break having Watched the onslaught of night, we certainly felt 'astonished yesterday morning at the transformation of tlip, locality from dry land to an impetuous torrent of- turbid water that washed through a channel one hundred yards in width, and. created a new. bar outside, nearly in a direct line with the shipping at lTl bson's Quay. At high water the bulk of "i" ~ he river ran through this new opening, a yery moderate stream only heading for the old entrauce ty the southward, "which was kept open by a heavy current running down the south arm of bhe river. Hundreds oi people visited the spit during the forenoon, including the entire amphibious tribe who haunt Gibson's Quay and its purlieus, and much speculation was indulged in concerning the most probable results of the change. of the most experienced of the port seamen inclined to the belief that for some / days at least the old channel would be easier worked, but when the tide fell it was very evident that new channel had been scoured out to a great depth as it easily con. taine(l the whole of the stream that runs past Gibson's Quay. At the same time th.c new bar looked anything but inviting, as it seemed broken up by sand-banks, between which the M channel ran narrow and tortuous. It, nowi ever, received such a scouring on the ebb tide, that we are bppef v.l, there will be a good workable bar this morning. For the present k at least "good bye" may be said to that "which vessels have hitherto lain the wharf, for, the breakwater gone, there is nothing to stay the jirogress of the surf when driven in by a westerly breeze. ' Even the surf extended across the river, broke in long ridges of foam upon the opposite flic wharf.but the "send" from the iN'.W. ; the shipping lay shelunder the lea of the lower end of and a small jutting portion of jNoith Beach. With a westerly sea it different, and should the send home the lower end of the wharf will be and vessels higher up must moor feet apart to allow for ranging. do not' anticipate the present continue long unchanged, as certain to eat its way south north spit will prppprtionthe same direction, the port : its priginal condition. depemts upon the closing of .which now contains a otherwise be diverted impinging upon the north Avould soon reduce its attract the main stream