CHRISTCHURCH.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 102, 15 February 1868, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From the Lyttelton Times, Feb. 5.) Again has the result of a fresh in our principal rivers made itsef felt, but instead of the damage being, as hitherto, chiefly cqnfied to one locality, it has on this occasion ranged over a large portion of the province. Hoad communication has been entirely cut off with most of the inland towns ; the telegraph has iii most places been broken down, and rumours are constantly arriving of bridges being carried away by this unexpected and unprecedented flood. • Yesterday morning, by one o’clock, tod banks below Madras-street Bridge had been topped, and the road on either side became flooded. By this time large crowds had collected on all the bridges on Oxford Terrace, where men were employed keeping the piles clear of debris in order that as little Opposition as possible might be offered to the stream. Shortly before three/ the overflow ComnledCtid ill the bcittdiii

Gloucester-street, the river being level with the buttresses of the Government foot bridge. Lane's Mill, and Montrealstreet bridges, and flowing over the flooring of Worcester-street bridge. So rapidly did the stream increase in volume, that within a quarter of an hour tde road from Lane’s Mill to beyond the Government buildings, was entirely under water, and the houses in the immediate vicinity were shortly afterwards flooded. Great apprehensions were entertained for the safety of Lane’s Mill, and between four and five o’clock a large quantity of the goods stored therein were removed. The water now covered the greater portion of the waste land between the river and the Drill Shed, whilst on the left banks, below Madras-street bridge, the road was impassable. At seven o’clock, the whole of the block containing the Post-office and Market-place was knee-deep under water, and communication with both the Victoria and Colomba bridges was entirely cut off for pedestrians. The Golden Fleece Hotel appeared to have become the general stand for all the cabs in the town, and here, after dark, were collected a large number of both Hansoms and 4-wheelers, ready to ferry people over the flooded land to the, bridges. In this they were continually employed, their lights flitting about in the darkness like so many Will ’o the wisps.

At half-past twelve this morning the overflow appeared to have reached its full height, and shortly after it very visibly began to retire from the higher ground. Before this, the Post-office was from three to four feet under water, whilst the flow from near the Government foot bridge had made its way up Gloucester-street, and effected a junction with that proceeding from the Market-place. Mr. Hargreaves’ office was the highest point reached in Cathedral square, and Dr. Deamer’s residence the highest in Armagh-street. Cabs were plying to and fro at the Colombostreet bridge the greater portion of the night, and we may mention that one man in attempting to cross it in the earlier part of the evening was very nearly drowned. The information from places beyond Christchurch is necessarily attended with a considerable amount of uncertainty, the roads being closed, and telegraphic communication almost entirely stopped. It is nevertheless certain that Kaiapoi, as usual, has come in for its full share of the misfortune, and will no doubt be the greatest sufferer. The morning coach from Christchurch was unable to get beyond Treleaven’s, the road thence almost to Kaiapoi being entirely under water. But since then several persons have been through from Christchurch, and it is beyond doubt that the swing bridge has been carried away. The Girder Bridge, on the Rangiora Drain Road, is reported to have been similarly destroyed, but no certainty exists upon the matter. White’s Bridge, at Felton’s Ferry, at six o’clock last evening, was safe, and as the river was then falling very fast, no anxiety on this account need he entertained. In Kaiapoi itself, the inundation has been much more serious and wide-spread than on any previous occasion. Detailed accounts are not yet to hand, but in many instances families had to be removed from their houses in boats, and from this an idea cah be formed of the probable damage. On the Rangiora Drain Road, in the area forming the original swamp, and in the Church Bush, almost the whole of the farms are flooded, and the destruction to crops alone must be very extensive. The Kaiapoi Island is completely overrun, and the country below Kaiapoi towards the beach has also suffered very considerably. Near Fendaltown, where the river Avon forms a sort of basin by being backed up with flax and toi-toi, the water rose yesterday morning upwards of four feet in a quarter of an hour. A large quantity of land in the neighbourhood was completely flooded, Mr. Barry alone losing between 300 and 400 sheep, besides a number of cattle.

At the Selwyn, the new bridge—Mr. Doyne's costly structure—is a complete wreck, and about 200 yards of the embankment on this side of the river has also been washed away. The piling put up since the former flood remains good. The river near the Coal track is reported to be higher than known for the past fourteen years. The whole bed, between one and two miles wide, is one sheet of water, but there is no news of any overflow. The risk incurred by Christchurch from the periodical flooding of the greater rivers has at length been practically brought home to the inhabitants, and the necessity of constructing protective works must now be evident. The oft-repaired embankment, we are informed, is at least completely carried away.