AFTER THE FLOOD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 62, 30 March 1880, Page 2

AFTER THE FLOOD.

Since the publication of our last issue, the flood has subsided, although the Manawatu is still very much higher than the highest spring tides when the river is in its ordinary state. Large bodies of water are still lying on the various flats that were submerged, and it will probably be a week or two before they are quite dried up. A rumour was afloat on Saturday that a body of water ten feet deep was making its way across the flat from a point above the ferry, at the foot of Ihakara's hill, and joining the main body below Mr Robinson's house. Considerable anxiety, was felt lest this, if true, should weaken the body of water running past the wharf, and so cause damage to the shipping accommodation of the port. We learn, however, there is no truth whatever in the rumour. During the flood there certainly was a large body, of water rolling over the place indicated, but as the water has subsided, the river has retained its ordinary course. THE WHARF. As the flood went down, the southwest corner of the wharf dropped several feet, the terrible rush of water at that part having scoured out the sand around the piles, which are now very much out of the perpendicular. The depression of the wharf is at least 5 feet at the part referred to. On Saturday morning a gang of men under the supervision of Mr J. T. Stewart, District Engineer, were engaged in dropping the shear legs, which are tied to the breastwork, removing the turntable, and taking up some of the rails. Yesterday (Monday) men were employed removing the debris from the south side of the wharf, with a view to having everything ready for pushing on with the work of repairing the wharf so soon as the water has subsided sufficiently. We understand it is intended at present to repair it only so far as is necessary to secure the working of one line of rails, leaving other repairs to be done as part of the reclamation scheme. As the turntable has been removed, we presume the line of rails will be the one at the north side of the old wharf. Under these circumstances it is evident that only one berth will be available at the wharf. The authorities, bearing this in mind, should certainly urge on the Government at once the desirability of proceeding with all possible haste with the new works. Soundings were taken yesterday, and it was found that where the wharf has given way, the depth of water has increased 9 feet. So heavy a " scour," will of course account for the piles getting out of place. THE BANK OF THE RIVER. This has sustained great damage below the township. From a point just above the Rev. Mr Duncan's house down to the boundary fence, the sloping bank of the river has been washed away. This had been " turfed," and was considered a safe protection from the flood. It proved itself to be such so far as the current was concerned, but the backwash played terrible havoc with it, and the result is that about 30 feet of land in front of Mr Duncan's house, and along his entire bank, has been carried down stream. So rapid an encroachment upon his house has naturally incited Mr Duncan to take precautionary measures, in case any farther floods should occur and render necessary a removal of the building. He has accordingly ordered the timber and other material necessary for removing the house to a safer site, and will be thus prepared for any emergency that may arise. Mr Robinson has also fared badly. The backwash has scoured away an enormous quantity of his land in the bight, and any person going down the river would be surprised at noticing the enormous gap the river has made, covering between two and three acres. All allong in front of the house the bank has carried away, many feet in depth, and Mr Robinson also considers it probable he will have to seek another site for his house. His wharf, at which his wool was shipped, has of course been swept away. THE FERRY. The Foxton ferry is of course at present quite useless. The ferry wire is broken, the post on the west bank is almost down, and the punt has an enormous hole through it. This last casualty occurred on Friday morning. It appears the punt, as the water subsided, settled on one of the posts belonging to the fence, the result being a large hole through the punt, whilst the post can now be seen through the top. The position of the punt must have caused heavy straining, and we fear that when the repairs are begun a general overhaul will be found necessary. A new wire has been ordered, and the old one, when repaired, will be kept as a reserve rope. AT MOUTOA. The flood appears to be subsiding very slowly at Moutoa. On Saturday and Sunday last it rose each morning about a foot, but again fell to its ordinary level. All the country up to the hills was under water on Sunday, so we are informed, and whilst the river continues to be in its present swollen state, it will be impossible for the water to get clear. The settlers all speak of the flood having greatly damaged their grass, which will be a serious loss, even where no

stock have been drowned. In many caes settlers had cattle which have been fed up for beef, and which another month's " top-dressing '' would have made ready for the butcher. The destruction of their grass will mean a great loss to these settlers, as the animals will either be thrown back for the year, or will have to be sold at a great disadvantage. CARCASES. In various parts of the district, along the banks of the river, large numbers of carcases of sheep and cattle have been deposited. Mr Wintersgill called at our office on Saturday, and informed us that over 100 of Mr Easton's sheep were lying on his grounds, whilst there were also several carcases of cattle, one of which was hung up in the willows. Of course many of the settlers do not even yet know what their actual losses are, and will not be able to ascertain them until the water is off their lands, and they are able to muster the sheep and cattle. HAY STACKS. On Saturday morning, about 10 o'clock, a large stack of hay passed Moutoa. One or two settlers tried to rescue it, but were unsuccessful. With a keen eye to the main chance, several natives put off in canoes, which they filled with the hay. Having filled three canoes, they let it go, and it passed Foxton about 9 p.m. This stack belonged to Mr Wm. Barnett, and was caught for him by Mr G. Trask in Hartley's bend, on Sunday morning. It is said there were about 30 tons in this stack. A second haystack came down the river on Sunday morning. Portion of it was seized by the Maoris living opposite the township, and the remainder was washed down stream. THE JANE DOUGLAS. The steamer Jane Douglas got away for Wellington on Saturday morning, at 8 o'clock. Although the tide was flowing at the time of her departure, the current, owing to the fresh in the river, was tremendously strong. A small crowd gathered to watch her start, and were rewarded with an illustration of the strength of the current. As the Douglas started to swing, it was very gradual at first, but when the current caught her, she whirled round like a top. A new three-strand rope, 1 1/2 inches thick, had been put out as a " spring," and immediately Captain Fraser saw the boat had got her nose round, he gave the order, " Let go !" It was too late, however, for before any one could approach the line, it had snapped like a piece of cotton, and carried away the " bits," the recoil tearing down the stern rail like matchwork, and snapping the flagpole. At first the steamer seemed disposed to run over to the west bank, but as she got further down stream she made steerage way, and drove along at a tremendous pace. ON THE BEACH. During the last heavy gales it will be remembered that the set of the tides was to the southward, but this time everything has been swept to the north, of course, owing to the southerly direction in which the wind has blown. Consequently the beach for miles to the north is strewn with the washings of the fresh. On Friday last a large number of people took advantage of the holiday to visit the ocean beach. The greatest mass of driftwood, &c, was piled up just opposite the bar, where it appeared to have been washed up at high water. Immense logs and trees could be seen on the beach, and large quantities of other material, including fencing, posts, rails, gates, boards, and other useful pieces of timber. A triangular portion of Mr F. Robinson's wharf was also at high water mark. This had held together well, being constructed of very heavy timber. The carcases of sheep washed down by the flood were lying along the beach, and Mr Easton brought up about a dozen he had picked up, for boilingdown purposes. A carcase of a steer was also on the beach some miles to the northward of the Pilot Station. This had been skinned, and its legs cut off, and presented a most disgusting sight. Portions of Mr R. Robinson's house were lying all along the beach for miles. These had been piled up by some men who had been getting out good stuff. A table, part of a bed, chairs, and other articles of furniture from the house, were also on the beach. One enterprising setter, who evidently knew what he was about, informed our representative that he had obtained about 200 good posts from the stuff washed up on the beach.