THE LATE FLOODS.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 102, 15 February 1868, Page 6

THE LATE FLOODS.

We are happy to notice that in our own locality matters are beginning to resume their former appearance, and there is reason to believe that the losses will not be so extensive as was at first surmised, as the farmers had to a large extent secured their crops ; the chief loss in this respect will be among the potatoes, which will probably fetch a high price this season in consequence. Since our last we have been called upon by parties from various parts of the province, and have visited much of the surrounding districts. At Wairau "Valley, while the water stood for a short time on the ground, little damage was done. The Waihopai ran bank high, but this did not prevent Mr. Ockley’s messenger from crossing it, although he had to swim about f of a mile. He succeeded in coming through (25 miles) and returning with the mails in the same day without wetting them. On the road at the head of the Omaka near Renwick, the flood has washed up a dangerous chasm about a chain long, 4 or 5 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. Renwick was covered with firewood, but beyond the culvert no damage was sustained. On the new road the Omaka bed is perhaps a little more uneven, the foot bi’idge a little nearer this way is choked up with rubbish piled upon it, and is slightly moved from its position. At the Fairhall on the east bank, the manuka groin is washed away, as well as a portion of the banks, but horsemen will find no difficulty about a chain higher up the stream. The remainder of the road is perfectly sound, and except in one or two places does not appear to have had the water upon it, while the new bridge near the outfall of the swamp is not in the least disturbed, though the contrary was reported. We are glad to hear that the losses experienced by the farmers on the banks of the river below Blenheim have been much exaggerated. Mr. Harding has lost nearly the whole of his stock unfortunately, but Mr. Macdonald informs us that he has lose nothing whatever. He adds that the only dry land between the town and the Boulderbank was at Blinkbonny, which was not affected except by the back water from the Maxwell and Fairhall rivers, which ran down between his house and Mr. C. Redwood’s with great force. We have been called to account this week by several persons for not noticing in our last the praiseworthy conduct of Messrs. Kissling and Hodson; the reason was that we were not made aware of it earlier. We are assured that the conduct of these gentlemen was beyond praise. In one instance Mr. Kissling was engaged in rescuing a child, when in wading through the deep water he stumbled into a hole, whereupon he lifted up the child in one arm while with the other ho struck out manfully, and thereby succeeded in saving it. Had he not been an adept in swimming, both lives would have been sacrificed. In another case he swam out with a female at considerable risk. We are always glad to acknowledge acts of bravery or goodness on the part of any, and we make the amende in the present case. AWATERE AND KAIKOURA. The flood in the Awatere has been the highest ever seen by the oldest residents in that district. The rain commenced on Sunday, at one p.m,, from the S.E.; at first only a slight shower, which increased gradually into a hurricane. On Monday morning, at eleven a.m., the river was much swollen, and perfectly impassable ; at one p.m. the wind, changed instantly to the K.W., and during that and the following day was more like a sea than a river-—the waves in many places attaining a height of

five to six feet. It has completely scoured the river bed of all manuka, scrub, &c., and washed away nearly all the scrub known as Major Richmond’s bush, opposite Blarich. Trees, though quite green, were hurled down far below Templeton’s, some of which would measure 2ft. in diameter.

The ford opposite Templeton’s is destroyed, and persons wishing a safe crossing are recommended to go south, via Maxwell’s Pass. The Taylor Pass Road is completely destroyed, and will take many hundreds of pounds to repair it; in some places several acres are washed away, and it must take months to repair it ; I hope, however, to see some road made immediately, as there are still some 800 bales of wool to come through for shipment. The question is whether a much better road could not be made, via Dashwood’s Pass, for less than it would cost to repair the Taylor road, which last is always at the mercy of a mountain torrent. The only benefit that residents in the Awatere derive from this tearful storm is an ample supply of firewood, which is generally so very scanty, and has to be used sparingly. The rivers further south and even small creeks, as Richmond Brook, Starborough Creek, and the Flaxbourne River have made haVoc of fencing, and drowned a great number of sheep; besides which I might mention the great number starved to death by the rain and wind. The Clarence has also been higher than ever; it was just into Lyford’s Accommodation House, and they were expecting every minute to have to leave it for safety; it was thirty feet higher than ever known, and washed away many acres of valuable land belonging to Mr. W. Mcßae, besides fencing, &c. The Kaikouras did not escape ; the Hapuka was very high, and the creek behind Mr. Keene’s house at Swyncombe washed part of the garden away, and the house at one time likely to be flooded. Cattle and sheep are also reported to be drowned in this district. —Own Correspondent. THE GROVE. February 6.—Mr. Duncan will be the heaviest loser here by the late flood. A good piece of the tramway was lifted out of its place. There was about three feet of water in and around the mill, and a number of tools were swept away. A good many of the houses were flooded, but I have not heard of any serious losses. Mr. Brown and Mr. Ingles also met with a little injury, but the work of a day or so will set all right again. A number of trees fell across the road between here and Mahakipawa, bringing with them telegraph poles and wires to the ground.— Press. MAHAKIPAWA. February 6.—Here, as everywhere else> the flood has left its mark behind, though fortunately for us no very serious damage has occurred. The creek running by the Mill, on Monday morning last, rose higher than has ever been known before. At eleven o’clock in the morning it was about its highest, and at that time it was running through the Mill and most of the surrounding houses. A very large tree fell across the end of the bridge, over which runs the tramway for the conveyance of timber from the bush, damaging it to a considerable extent. A great part of the tramway further in the bush, was also lifted and carried away. The only means the public had of crossing the stream —a log of wood —was swept away, and the only way of getting to the other side now is by going round the tramway and through the Mill, a considerable distance out of the proper route. Mr. Gaby had a splendid crop of oats out, which, if not entirely spoiled, will be greatly damaged. Messrs, Brownlie and Co.’s mill suffered little or no damage.— lbid. THE KAITUNA. February s.—On Monday last we were visited with the severest flood known in this district, causing great destruction to property. About thirty chains of the bush tramway belonging to the Havelock Steam Saw Mill Company has been entirely swept away. The water reached to such a height in Mr. Davis’s house that he and his family had to be rescued by means of a boat. Mr. Davis has also sustained heavy losses by the destruction of fences, and I also hear that he has lost a large number of cattle. The bridge over the Kaituna river has stood well. Notwithstanding the fact that the water was over the top of the rails, no damage was done to it. Mr. Famell’s house had a very narrow escape of being swept away with all its inmates. Some immense pieces of timber came down with the flood, but were providentially stopped by stumps of trees in front of the house, or its des-

truction would have been inevitable. Mr. Garrod and other settlers in the Kaituna have all suffered more or less by fences, &c., being washed away. From the Pelorus no reliable news has yet come to hand, but I hear that large numbers of cattle and horses have been drowned.

This flood is unprecedented in the minds of the oldest Maori settlers here. A great deal of damage has been the result, and some time will elapse before the losses can be repaired.— lbid.