FLOOD IN THE BULLER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 37, 12 February 1872, Page 2

FLOOD IN THE BULLER.

(Westport Times, February 10.) Early yesterday morning the river commenced to scour out over the bank at the rear of the protective work at the foot of Gladstone-street, aud with alarming velocity tbe narrow strip of roadway and the ground occupied by the National Hotel commenced to give way. This was about five o'clock j eaterday morning, and as early as possible efforts were made to save the furniture, and to dismantle the building, Nearly all the furniture was moved, and a number of doors and windows. At seven o'clock the ground having sufficiently given way the buiiding slipped down and was hurried away by the stream, which a few hours earlier bad opened for itself _ a new deep j channel, intersecting the north spit about one hundred yards beyond Tibby's premises, more { recently occupied by Atkinson, hide and skin dealer. As the building dropped below Stanley wharf it fouled the schooner Three Friends, causing her to drag anchor, and very nearly dragging the vessel from her moorings. Thanks to the steady courage of two men on board, who had chaTge of the vessel during her owner's absence ia Nelson, the vessel was eased off, .and the doomed building was swept down the new channel

wing to the substontial Way in which it was built the structure remained entire until reaching the bar, when the fabric was dashed to pieces by the surf. A large saloon adjoining, occupied in the earlier days by a publican named Blair, was the next building carried away, and shortly alter Mr. Munro's store, erected on piles, gave way, and its entire contents, or very nearly all of them were B wept away picemeal. On what was the North Spit, but which is now an island dividing the two channels, property belonging to Messrs. Suisted Bros, and Mr. Michael Organ, was destroyed, the loss amounting to fully £4 CO. Messrs Suisted's property, consisting of a slaughter yard and outbuildings, piggeries, &c. A valuable horse, and a favorite sheep dog were also secured within one of the buildings washed away, and it is a perfect miracle how they got loose and escaped not only drowning but injury from the falling roof and timbers of the structure in which they were confined. The horse and dog, together with a large herd of swine, are at present on the island, but in no immediate danger, and will be recovered when the flood moderates. The skin | yards belonging to Mr Michael Organ are also i completely destroyed and swept away, together with two waggons and a large quantity of hides, skins, salt, and utensils.