EARTHQUAKE AND FLOODS AT MARLBOROUGH.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 60, 24 February 1868, Page 47

EARTHQUAKE AND FLOODS AT MARLBOROUGH.

The following is taken from the Marlborough Press, of the 15th February, which is published at Picton:—■

Within the last few days Picton has been visited with the. most destructive flood that has been known to occur in the place, The first indication of atmospheric disturbance was given on Saturday morning last, when, about 7.45 a.m., was heard the boomiug, mournful rumble which always precedes an eaathquake. Before the sound of the approach had passed away, the earthquake was felt, coming from a S.W. direction, and the earth could, during its progress, be plainly seen to move, The oscillations of the houses, were visible to those who were outside, while those inside were fully alive to the fact that something more than common was going on. Articles in the. different rooms appeared to be suddenly endowed with animation as they quitted their accustomed places, aud things usually inert and motionless gave proof of the power of the dreaded ageucy by which the solid earth was moved. But little actual damage was done by the shock, beyond shaking down some hags of flour in the stare of Messrs. Beauchamp and Cq., and unstringing the nerves of the timid. Tlie earthquake was the severest- that has been felt in the province for some years, and lasted a few seconds. About 13.30 p.m., it began to rain. The result is thus noted in Picton:—

The water contiuued to spread as the rain kept on, «iid logs and debris washed into the stream, came rushing down with a resistless force. At 7 a.ni. the foot-bridge, which connected the north and south parts of the town, was carried bodily away, and down to the sea, before anything could be done to save it. The fences round the ground bordering the liver were tlie next to suffer: and as they acted as weirs in stopping the various articles as they floated down tlie current, the water had immense power against them, and one after the othier followed the direction taken by the bridge. About 9 a;m. the water began to make its appearance round the south side of the gaol, quiokly forcing the. palisading before it, The dam erected to confine the water from the cutting and the new bridge .was next forced, and the seething torrents were . divided —one going tiie old course, an,d the other making a new course, and going under the recently-erected bridge. ~ This gave another tlie water, but added considerably to the chance of causing great damage, as the logs coming down by the cutting were caught by the piles on which , the bridge stands, and the .water was backed up for a long distance. It was seen; that, unless something was done, nothing could save the new bridge from following the fate of the old one; and after a long ana hazardous work, the, danger whioh threatened it was tided over, ,and, for the time, it was safe. A large portion of 1 * the' garden belonging to Mr. Jeff fries was covered'with several feet . of. earth. *4*'- • .•* V•

gardens along the course of the Waitohi hrered several feet by a deposit of mud. Much ieryhas been destroyed. AU communication leing stopped, we are unable to state how far the ravages of the storm have been felt; but we have received intelligence that the road as far as the Half-wcy House is quite impassable for vehicles or horses, and that the whole of the bridges are washed away. Several large landslips have taken place: these, together with trees laying across the roads, will make it a matter of impossibility totravel between Picton and Blenheim, for some time..