SATURDAY'S FLOOD.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 393, 21 July 1868, Page 2

SATURDAY'S FLOOD.

The anticipations which v/e indulged in in our last with reference to tho speedy approacli of a Jlood were amply realised by the state of the river on Saturday morning. TJxo river rose rapidly during tho night, and as the tide backed it up it was at once seen that a heavy flood was inevitable, and before the hour of ,high tide tho t rrent which was pouring down tho rivor was something tremendous. For a time it was confined to its proper channel by the strong protective works recently erected under the supervision of the Road Board, the efficiency of which were clearly demonstrated during tho courso of tho day. High aa tho piling and planking of the embankment is, the river overflowed, but, excopt at one point, the water inside was comparatively still. This point was Boundary street, where a dam had been built since the last flood, but had not been finished and raised to a level with the crown of tho roads on either side, principally because the tramway lino waa hero lower than tho level of tho road and required to ba raised one foot before anything further could bo done to the work. Consequently, tho overflow found a channel into Boundary street first at this weak point, and then gradually worked its way through tho shingle, until, at tho height of the flood, a considerable stream the whole width of the street was pouring over tho dam, cutting off all safe communication between tho two townships except by boat. This state of things lasted the entire day, and although a few venturesome individuals did wado across the dam it was at tho risk of losing their lives. For moro than two hours after tide time the back-water from the lagoon rose steadily and inundated the whole of the back streets of both townships to a considerable depth, whilo in tho lower portions of Mawhera Quay the wator rose to the doorstops "f all the ntorus, and entered several, (hi Richmond Quay the

overflow was much greater, and many of the hotels and shops there wore several feet deep in vrator. Tho ferry and upriver cargo boats wmv. brosighfc into Boundary street, from which ccsih'e they plied all through the town, and many families, especially those living in tlc^u proximity to the lagoon and ov«r tho S<:fton. bridge, v.'ere rescued fr.nn iiiisniniMif peril by tIiPKO moans, ami brought to a s-ifor j-.laco inilit! U]>;vr portion of the town. It \vas*liearly tiii'co h.turs- after tile ore tho waters began to recede, but this it did so slowly that grave fears were entertained that it could not run off before the next tide made, and we would then have a worse ilood than the first. We arc happy to say these forebodings were not realised, aa the water subsided slowly but steadily throughout the afternoon and night, and on the evening's tide no overflow took place, although the current continued to run very rapidly through t lie channel which it had by this time cut in Boundary street dam. Tho fact that we had not another and moro serious repetition of the morning's flood, may, we tliink, be attributable in sumo measure, to the change in the weather which took place during the afternoon. In the early part of tho day rain continued to fall heavily, but in the afternoon tho gorge wind brought down a vory slight sprinkling of snow, just sufficient to show that it was snowing and freezing up country. The night set in clear and frosty, and Sunday was a line, bright winter day. I It was not until Sunday that the amount of damage caused by the flood in town could bo ascertained, and then it I was happily found to be comparatively trifling with what it might have been, or what it would have been but for tho protective' works. These, at their lowest point, are fifteen inches, and at Boundary street, over three feet, higher than was approved of by the County Engineer, and yet tho flood surged over them. Where Greymouth would have been now, had an additional three feet of water been surging through its streets, is a question upon which wo will not now enter ; but it is very certain that one-half of tho town owes its existence to-day to tho wisdom of the Road Board in keeping tho embankment at its present height. We are glad to say that to the protective works proper no damage whatever occurred ; but the nice piece of roadway, called the Boundary street dam, has* been very much injured — torn with deep ruts, and a large quantity of the shingle carried into the creek, where it will not be lost, as it will assist in tho formation of the street, whenever that event may take place. At the upper end of the town near the wharf a pieco of the old embankment, which had been left standing, gavo way on Sunday forenoon, and slid into tho river. Tho scour of tho river had long ago undermined the . diminutive piles which wore driven in that ." job," and it has lately been hanging by land-ties. Two of these snapped on Sunday, and about fifty feet of work gavo way, and tho remaining portion appears vory likely to follow its example soon. t No serious accidents occurred in town during tho flood, although several very narrow escapes were nmdo. Ono inebriated or insane person coolly walked into the currunt in Boundary street, and attempted to swim to the corner of Gre3son- street ; but was picked up and dragged into a boat just as he was becoming exhausted. Two other men, in attempting to wade over tho dam, slipped into a hole, and were swept down by the currant. They Btruck out to swim to the other side of tho street, where a number of unlookers joined hands and dragged them ashore, much exhausted. At the Ahaura Township, tlie flood proved to be tlie highest, but one, ever known in tho district ; but no serious damage was done to buildings, in consequence of the protective works, which were lately earned out by a local committee, proving of great utility. Mr Pinkorton's large boat, and Mr Gough's ferry-boat, were swept away, through the river eating away the bank in which the , mooring-posts were fixed. At Hokitika, the weather appears to have been very bad, but tho river was not heavily flooded. The bar was closed by tho heavy sea, and the ocean steamers were not tendered until yeßterday morning- ___________ v _^_