HEAVY RAINFALL AT HAWKE’S BAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 124, 4 July 1868, Page 5

HEAVY RAINFALL AT HAWKE’S BAY.

The Herald of the 20th instant, says : The light showers ’ which commenced on Friday last, changed on Sunday night into rather heavy rain, which continued, with intervals, till Thursday morning. Although the total rainfall at Napier during that period scarcely exceeded six inches, it is evident that, with the prevailing easterly wind, a much heavier discharge has taken place on the ranges. The rivers rose gradually until Thursday night, when the lower plains—between Waitangi, the Little Bush, and Napier—were covered to such an extent that the flood waters reached Mr. McMurray’s verandah. The waters are now rapidly subsiding, and we are glad to learn that the losses sustained have been very light. "We have not heard, indeed, of any loss of live stock, the settlers having taking timely precaution ; but Mr. Jeffares has lost a considerable pit of potatoes, and other casualties of a similar character are reported. Communication with the inland district, even with the Meanee Flats, has not been interrupted, although the low part of the road near Tareha’s Bridge was covered to the depth of nearly three feet, rendering travelling dangerous for those not well acquainted with the locality. On Thursday morning matters stood thus : —The Meanee was overflowing heavily opposite Taipo, making the road near the Little Bush quite impassable. The river also slightly overlapped its banks about half a mile above the bridge on the same side, as well as below Mr. Ashton’s near the race course. Only a very small stream ran through Taipo and the Greenmeadows. The Ngaruroro overflowed its banks near Te Awa o te Atua, and covered the low lands above Karamu. The Tuki Tuki, which had, fortunately, made for itself a straight course to the sea, on ’Wednesday overflowed slightly towards Kidnappers, which saved Clive and the lands near the Big Bush. All accounts from inland report flooded rivers. The driver of Cobb’s coach, which arrived yesterday afternoon from Waipawa, reports three culverts as having been washed away on the main road, and the bridge at Paki Paki as having been a short time in danger through a Maori whare having floated down upon it. But no serious casualties seem to have occurred. In fact the beneficial effects, if we are now favored with fine weather, must outweigh largely the losses, the smallness of which is greatly to be attributed to the promptitude with which, taught by the events of last year, outlying settlers took measures of precaution. The following additional particulars are given in the Herald of the 27th : Contrary to what was the case last year, the damage up-country seems to have greatly exceeded that in the vicinity of Napier. The deviation of the Waipawa river, referred to in a paragraph underneath, would appear to be a very serious matter ; while considerable damage has been done to the roads and public works. The Meanee river, though its ravages have been slight in comparison with those of last year, has done some damage, particularly near Mr. Bennett’s, Mr. Dolbel’s, and Capt. Bussell’s, whei'e considerable encroachments were made, and many acres of land swept away. At Woodthorpe, Mr. Bousfield was a serious sufferer, the river having made a clean breach at the rear of his house, and washed away his garden. A correspondent from Waipukurau thus writes on Tuesday last:—■“ Now that traffic has been resumed, it appears the late floods have done a considerable amount of damage all over the country, a great many bridges and culverts having been swept away or partially destroyed. The most serious consequences have arisen from the Waipawa river near its former junction with the Tuki Tuki, having altered’its course entirely; now flowing in a deep channel down Mr. Tiffen’s flats towards Patangata. ’ At the latter place, the bridge on the middle road has been carried away, and great damage done to the native village and cultivations there. We understand Mr. Steel is also a heavy loser. At the Waipawa pa, the river makes great encroachments, A child was * swept away by the flood, but luckily was carried to a bank, where it remained for au hour before it was rescued.”