THE FLOODS AT GREYMOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1572, 1 May 1874, Page 201

THE FLOODS AT GREYMOUTH.

(Evening Star, 7th April.) It is once more the painful task of the Greyrnouth journalist to chronicle a disastrous flood. After a long and exceptionally fine summer the weather showed signs of change on Friday last, and on Saturday evening the rain commenced to fall heavily, and shortly after noon on Sunday the inhabitants of the lower part of the town received notice to quit from the rapid backing-up of the agoon. Taught by past experience of the danger of delay, no time was lost; and the orthodox repose of the Sabbath was soon broken by the rattle of express waggons and drays bearing the inhabitants of the flooded parts and their chattels to a place of safety. The river meanwhile continued to rise rapidly, and the note of preparation was heard on every side. Boards were nailed across the doors of houses on the quay, against these bags and stones were piled to protect if possible the interior of the dwellings from the debris and sand that forms the most annoying concomitant to the influx of flood-water. The Steamers Dispatch and Titan got up steam, the latter remaining in her usual berth, the former dropping down to the lower extremity of the protective works, where she not only found for herself a snug berth, but also afforded great protection to the lower corner of the town 'by breaking the force of the seas. The captain and crew of the Alice Maud devised everything that nautical skill could suggest to keep their vessel straight, and their efforts were crowned with success. Late telegrams received from the Ahaura stated that the river was still rising, and the rain falling steadily, upon the receipt of which intelligence the Borough Councillors, who had been actively exerting themselves during the afternoon, now redoubled their efforts. Carters and boatmen where guaranteed fair and reasonable charges for any work they might perform, and at 9 o’clock it was deemed advisable to remove the books and papers from the Town Hall. The scene that the town presented at midnight would have been worthy matter for the writer of a sensational novel, the appearance being that of an archi-pelago-patches of dry land "standing out hero and there only—every street in the town being submerged, while the moving lights in every house gave evidence of the anxiety of the inhabitants, the wind meanwhile blowing a gale, and the rain falling incessantly, and through it all, in the dim moonlight, might be seen vehicles splashing their way, carrying families from places of danger, scarcely knowing whither to direct their course to find places of safety. Toward morning, owing to the ebbing of the tide, the flood underwent a temporary subsidence, but commenced to rise again at daylight, attaining the level of the great flood of February, 1872, by noon. The protective works, however proved worthy of their name; the current of the river w&s kept in its accustomed channel, and the inhabitants of Mawhoraquay had the satisfaction of seeing immense trees rush harmlessly by above the level of their doorways, and the submergence of the lower portion of the town being caused principally, if not wholly, by the back-water, the damage is not likely to be gfeat. One cottage on the terrace was blown down by the wind, but beyond this the damage by that element is chiefly confined to broken panes of glass. The whole of Coal Creek Flat was submerged, the water being half way up to the wall plates of the houses. The damage done to the road and railway lino is very considerable, and the telegraph lines are down in all directions ; In consequence we have no telegrams except from Charleston, the tone of which is similar to that we might have transmitted had we been able. From the number of dead cattle, and the remains of what wei'e a few days since homesteads that have been observed drifting out to sea, we may anticipate bad news from the Grey Valley whenever communication may be opened with that district. We finish this report at the time of high water, and as the weather shows signs of clearing, wo trust we have recorded the worst of a visitation that would have undoubtedly been the most disastrous that Greyrnouth has yet experienced, had it not been fox' the stone breastwork constructed to guard the town* —Thus far we reported yesterday, and arc now enabled to add that the damage done by this flood, although serious, is

trifling compared with the havoc caused I by a former visitation of similar magnitude. Yesterday evening the water was washing over the protective works at nearly every point. About dusk it recommenced to rain, and there appeared every indication of a bad night. At this time the water was three or four feet in depth in most of the back streets, while the current in Tainui, Albert, and Boundary-streets rendered the crossing of them difficult if not dangerous. One old gentleman, rather the worse for whisky, was swept off his feet in the former place into a scour out near the Bank Hotel, from which he was promptly rescued by the bystanders after swallowing sufficient water to qualify the spirits previously imbibed. The front street was crowded all day, and it must indeed have been a gratifying sight for theliechabites and Good Templars to see their brethren take so kindly to the water. Bat-hunt-ing seemed to be the favorite pastime, these animals being driven out in numbers by the flood, but this was agreeably diversified by boating excursions and splashing matches, this latter amusement being one to be admired by all sensible people at a distance. The most serious disaster to be recorded is the destruction of four houses at the lower part of Gressonstreet, by the river encroachment. These were occupied by Messrs Thorns, Goodhall, Davis, and West, the last mentioned party being likewise the owner of the property he resided in. Of the others, two belonged to Mr Jones the baker, and the other to Mr Coates. The fence of the Catholic School ground is destroyed, and this, fortunately, seems to be the extent of the damage done to the buildingsSeveral valuable horses have been drowned, one belonging to ' John Bankin, being valued at £6O. Some of the houses in the lower portion of the town were submerged for twenty-four hours, and the inhabitants are busy to-day digging out their floois, some of which are buried under twelve inches of sand and mud. A large piece of the river-bank is washed away behind the Town Hall, the yard upon which the complimentary title of Town Pound is bestowed, being within a few feet of the water. We noticed this morning a few members of the Grcymouth Cricket Club regarding with rueful countenances the alteration for the worse perceptible in the Court-house Beserve, the turf of which is completely obliterated by a covering of sand, and we are pleased to think they have no worse misfortunes to trouble them. We anxiously await the opening of telegraphic communication, and trust that the reports we shall receive may be no worse than those wo shall have to send ; although from the fact of the excessive rainfall being general all throughout the Coast, we do not anticipate that Hokitika and Westport escaped as luckily as ourselves. It is rumored that one of the effects of the recent heavy downpour of rain and the consequent flood attending it is a slip in the Greenstone Boad of more than a quarter of a mile in extent. The damage done to the road between this town and the Ahaura is also said to be considerable. It is estimated by competent judges that to repair damages done to the Brunner Bailway by the flood will necessitate the outlay of a sum equal to one-third of the original cost of the line, viz., seven or eight thousand pounds. We trust that this estimate will be found to be greatly exaggerated when further examination shall have been made.