Floods in Hawke's Bay.

Manawatu Herald, 7 December 1893, Page 2

Floods in Hawke's Bay.

The most disastrous flood ever recorded in Hawke's Bay occurred on Monday night. The whole of the low-lying country between Napier and Ormondville, 68 miles, is more or less affected. Very heavy rain commenced on Saturday evening and fell all Sunday and Monday to the south of Napier. The country is yet so under water that accurate details of the damage cannot be ascertained, but the large bridges at Waipawa and Waitangi are seriously damaged, and smaller bridges have been washed away, closing all railway communication between Napier and Ormondville. Telegraphic communication south of Waipukurau was interrupted about 9 o'clock, but it was then known that the floods were rising, and that immense losses of sheep had occurred. Messengers galloped into town for boats, and these saved many families. In some oases the water was so high that holes bad to be cut through the roofs to rescue the inmates. The large embankment erected by Nelson Brothers and a few other settlers at Olive some fourteen years [ ago, for the protection of their pro- ! perties, broke, with the result that that the thickly stocked country was flooded deeply. 1 Practically the whole of the crops

of the Ahnriri Plains, and nearly all the stock must have perished. Many settlers will be totally mined. At "Waipawa, the families in low* lying sections we're rescued, bnt It Is impossible to communicate with the houses in the riverbed, there being no boats. The Herald's correspon* dent telegraphs that the houses seem to be turning over, and it is feared that all the inhabitants are drowned. East Clive, the lowest part of the plains around Napier, had not been visited by boats at tour o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, and it is feared there will be loss of life theie. Bo far only three deaths have been ascertained* Mr Donald McFarlane, brother-in-law of the manager of the Marekakaho Station, and four settlers, were endeavouring to secure the Suspension Bridge, were all washed away. Two made their way to the shore, and two got on an island, where they were rescued by Maoris, but McFarlane was drowned. The Rev. 3. Douglas, Presbyterian ' minister, wished to get to Taradale and accepted a lift on a butcher's cart. At the low part of the road the current was so strong that the cart was overturned, and Mr Douglas was swept away to sea. A boy at Clive, whose name ia unknown, was also seen to drown. The rain threatens to return, and if it does so the disasters must be still greater. Clive and Meanee are nothing bnt one huge sheet of water. At Meanee the scene is saddening ami pitiable in the extreme. The residents there had an anxious time. People left their homes and sought the higher ground. The river bankgave way in five places at 9 o'clock on Monday night, causing a ferfect rush of water over the flat locality. Though it has been fine for 10 hours, the waters have gone down very little. So far as can be ascertained, only Messrs McFarlane and Douglas have lost their lives. The report as to the loss of a boy at Clive requires confirmation. When the boats reached East Clive, the residents were found better off than was expected, and though some were perched on the roofs of houses, only one woman would leave in the boats. At Waipawa all the residents in the threatened houses were l'escued. At Waipukurau one family were nearly drowned. Their house was carried bodily some distance down the stream. The family were seen on the roof mnking signals ofdif?* tress, but nothing could be done for them, and they spent the night there. In the morning a boat was got and they were all rjespued.jnuQh exhausted. -•••:•> - -.