THE LATE FLOOD.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 54, 5 July 1879, Page 2

THE LATE FLOOD.

In addition to the damage which we have already chronicled as having been done by the late flood, we learn that the punt at Foxton was carried away. About half-past two on Monday afternoon, the chain guy attached to one of the posts that supported the wire, owing to the increased strain upon it, snapped, while the punt was crossing. The post, of course, went over, forming a bight in the wire rope, which in consequence broke short off, thus setting free the punt, which incontinently started on a voyage on its own account. The punt happened to be crowded at the time with Natives, whose consternation assumed a very demonstrative phase, their hoeremiad being unusually earnest and vigorous. Fortunately for the punt and its dusky occupants, it took the ground a little below the wharves. Mr Hayns, the County Engineer, was wired to at once and that gentleman lost no time in repairing to the scene of the disaster. A steamer was engaged to tow the punt to its place, and a new and st onger wi e rope stretched across the river without loss of time, so that by six o'clock on Tuesday evening the damage had been repaired though the river was still ve y high, and the current strong. The accident was caused through a defective link in the guychain giving. A recurrence of this has been provided by the old wire rope being utilised for geys, the number of which will be increased when the river goes down. The Moutoa distinct was several feet under water, and the County road there has been injured, there being at the present time not less than six inches of deposit left on it, and portious being still submerged.