English and foreign Items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 754, 20 January 1870, Page 3

English and foreign Items.

EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH TIDES IN ENGLAND. On Wednesday afternoon (November 3) them was an extraordinarily high tide, and the Thames, about half past 1 o'clock, had risen to the height of 3 feet 3 inches above the high water mark, as shown by the index at St. Paul's Pier. All the way from Greenwich to London, along the banks of the river, great inconvenience was caused at the warehouses and wharfs, and in many instances much damage must have resulted. At St. Paul's Pier the river flowed about 15 feet beyond the wharf, and the passengers had to wade through it ankle deep to get to the steamers. The dwellers by the waterside over the rowing ground between Putney and Kew, were at a loss how to provide against the sudden and unexpected rise of water, the occupants of all houses near the bank being subject to much annoyance, and in many cases loss and damage. The improvements along the towing path, which it was thought had been made sufficiently high to resist any pressure of water, were of no avail, the tide completely submerging the path and nearly obscuring the bridges, and lying in great lakes in the private grounds adjoining the high road to Barnes. At Hammersmith the water was up in the road, and the steamboat accompanying the race between Coxon andM'Mahon was damaged in a fruitless endeavor to g3t under the Suspension-bridge, much to the chagrin of those who had paid their money to see the race. Here again the tide was all over the banks, Chiswick Eyot being lost to view, while the same indications were observable at the Mall at Chiswick, and along Barnes-terrace, where the water was entering the private houses, and reached up to the rails. At May's boatyard at Barnes, especially built on logs to be above the reach of the water, at the Thames, London, Style's, and Simmon's yards, the craft were all afloat, and the water had reached right up into the High street, Fulham ; but perhaps the most remarkable sWit was in the Bishop of London's grounds, extending from Fulham Church to some distance up the Middlesex bank, Here the water was rushing over like a cataract, the beautiful lawn had given place to the overpowering element, and the sheep grazing a little beyond had to take refuge higher up. Accounts of considerable damage have also reached us from other places along the river's banks", and it is noticeable that it was floo.l at Putney for 5| hours, the average being a little over 4. The captain of the steamboat above spoken of states that he does not remember such a tide during the time he has navigated the vessel, 23 years. The tide flowed to an extraordinary height in Portsmouth Harbor. In Eaststreet vehicles were up to the boxes of their j wheels in the water, while in Broad-street it reached nearly as high as the Old Blue Posts. The lower part of the Point was impassable for foot passengers, and many of the tradespeople stopped up crevices in their doorways and cellar windows with Staniahaw clay. The wind at the time of the height of the tide was about northwest, but it afterwards got into a more southerly direction. Rainsgate was also visited with a very high tide. The water covered the landingstage, and made its way into the stores on the Military road, and into the lower part of the Custom House. It rose within a foot of the summit of the Cross-wall, and at 10 35 a.m. was dashing into the stonemasons' yard and along the Esplanade. A portion of the East Cliff was washed down. A telegram, dated Blackpool, Thursday evening, says:—" oince Tuesday night a great storm has been raging here, and at. noon to-day it appeared to culminate. For many hours the wind has been blowing at a hurrioane pitch, and between 11 and 1 to-day the tidal water rose to a greater height and with more violence than the oldest inhabitant can remember. On Tuesday night the water ran very high, sweeping down several walls, &c, on the south-west side of Blackpool. Early this morning the storm was renewed. At noon the water ran mountains high; many houses were flooded to the depth of two or three feet, and in spite of closed doors fastened up with clay, and drawn shutters, the violence of the sea broke in upon several, sweeping round and coming in at the back with immense fury; the spray of the waves dashed over the houses. The water between the Manchester and Foxhill Hotels rushed over walls, and flooded the Blackpool and Lytham Railway, a portion of which was washed away. No trains have been able to run between Blackpool and Lytham to-day. The two piers have stood the storm well, although considerably shaken at times. Fortunately, the wind blew today from the N.N.W.; if it had come from the S.W. terrible destruction would have been caused. This evening the wind is blowing high, and the tidal water of this forenoon has not been cleared out."