THE WEATHER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 29, 5 February 1868, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

The almost incessant downpour which took place during the whole of yesterday, accompanied by thunder and lightning at frequent intervals, and followed by one of the heaviest falls of rain we have ever ■witnessed, which took place immediately after our going to press, and continued up to midnight with more or less severity, gave unmistakable indications that the city was about to be visited by another of those destructive floods which seem to have now become periodical inflictions at this season of the year. It will he remembered that the heavy flood which did so much damage last year occurred on the 28th January, whilst that of the preceding year, which was still more destructive, took place on the 2nd February. These anticipations proved not to be unfounded ; before 6 o'clock the river had risen baakhigh, and the lower end of Collingwood and Bridge-streets were completely under water, the gravest apprehensions being

entertained for tha safety of the various dwellings in the vicinity of the river, to many of which access could only be obtained by wading knee-deep through the water. This anxiety was not diminished by the steady continuous fall of rain, or the sullen roar of the thunder, followed by vivid flashes of lightning which ever and anon illuminated the scene with their fitful glare, aud showed the river whirling along impetuously, bearing down large limbs of trees and embankments in its mad career, and threatening with instant destruction every obstacle to its onward progress. This continued until some time after midnight, when the wind lulled and the rain ceased, and it was evident that the tempest had spent its utmost fury. The river gradually fell, and -when daybreak ' broke upon the scene, it was found that the three bridges had held out bravely against the flood, and that, as compared with the damage sustained in former years, the river, though it had risen higher than on previous occasions, had caused far less injury to property, though very considerable inconvenience was experienced by the flooding and undermining of the lower portions of many of the houses in its immediate vicinity, especially those in Bridge-street. The end of Mr. Hooper's old brewery was washed away ; j the mashtub, showing a very suspicious attraction towards a rival establishment, hav- | ing been stranded lower down the river on the flat close to Mr. Field's brewery. ; £40 worth of coals were also, we hear, lost in a similar manner. The telegraph post near the Bridge-street Bridge, too, was laid low, together with the lamp-post ; part of the approach to the bridge being likewise washed away. Little damage, we are informed, was done in Brook-street Valley, where the stream did not rise so high as on previous occasions. The lower part of the western side of the bridge near the slaughter-house on the Stoke Road has fallen in, aad the bridge near Mr. Martin's has also suffered. The end of the schoolroom at Stoke was blown in by the gale on Monday. The embankment at the Wairoa Bridge has been broken down, but Mr. Holdec | managed, by making a circuit, to bring his van into town this morning from FoxhilL It is stated that another waterspout was i seen making its way down the Maitai Valley about 8 o'clock yesterday morning, and then floated off towards Brook-street Valley, but was only observed by a few persons. We regret to state that an old and wellknown settler, Lawrence Devany, met his death yesterday evening, having been found this morning lying dead on the side of the road below the College, entangled in the roots of some willow trees. An inquest will be held on the body this afternoon at the Rising Sun, when farther particulars as to the immediate cause of the poor old man's death may be elicited. It may be observed that fewer landslips than have usually taken place during these periodical floods, may be numbered among the casualties of yesterday's flood, and the picturesque appearance of the country has therefore suffered in a less degree than is ordinarily the case on these occasions.