FLOODS AT THE WEST COAST.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 87, 13 April 1874, Page 2

FLOODS AT THE WEST COAST.

By the Kennedy, which arrived from Westport on Saturday afiornoon, wo received files of West Coast newspapers, which possess special interest from the fact that all communication with that part of (he island has been suspended since the 4th inst. The heavy rains which were reported to have done so much damage in the Canterbury province appear to have extended from Chrisfcehurch to the West Coast, where tremendous floods have been experienced. Our Dunedin exchanges of Monday last make no mention of bad weather in the South, the raiu of Saturday and Sunday, the 4th and sth inst., apparently having been confined to a narrow belt stretching across the middle of the island. The following extracts from papers to hand deecribe the extent of tbe floods, and tho damage done to the various districts :— [ Westport Times.~\ The heavy fall of rain commencing about noon on Saturday, and continuing with scarcely any intermission until 10 o'clock on Monday morning, appears to have extended not only along the Coast, but far into the back country, judging from the flooded state of the river. All day Sundny, and up till dusk last evening, a very heavy current was running, bearing large quantities of timber, driftwood, and masses of bush, the troubled waters, as usual, causing mush damage to the river banks on the Westport side of the river. In many places ten, fifteen, and twenty feet of the coal quay reserve have been carried away, and the adjacent soil loosened and cracked for many feet further back. Yesterday the old wharf which has stood so long at the foot of Cobden-etreet, and braved many a flood, was washed away, and the timber and piles carried out to sea, Tho gap thus made allowed the river to encroach on the bank, and necessitated the hurried removal of sundry small and dilapidated buildings standing thereabouts. Fortunately the stone groin at the foot of Nelson-street, which has so often proved the safeguard of tbe lower portion of the town, again did good service and turned the full force of tho current iv mid-stream. Further up, at the rear of tbe new Empire Hotel premises, the boat-steps were washed away, and a ten or twelve feet gap made in the bank. The steps carried out to sea were washed high and dry on the beach, and were picked up again nearly opposite the hospital. GoiDg further up stream the river bank iv several places has been considerably encroached on, and it may be safely calculated that altogether the Government has lost some four or five acresof valuable river frontage. Atmidday on Sunday, the Bentham-street punt was carried away from its moorings and sailed over the bar, and about dusk Langdon's Inangahua punt came rolling down stream and was lost iv the same direction, [Charleston Herald.'] The length of time elapsing since the last flood, had caused immense quantities of driftwood along the course of the Nile River to become perfectly dry, the consequence being, that on the rising of the Nile immense quantities of it floated, and wero borne down stream by the hourly increasing current, until an obstacle was opposed to its further progress by that especially constructed trap for snags — the Nile Bridge — where the drift was brought up " all standing," through the upsights or supports of the bridge being placed so close together, that unless a waif came down "end on," it was sure to come foul of one or more uprights. The accumulation of drift kept increasing with the rapid rise of the river, until tbe bridge, which, had previously shown symptoms of distress, gave way by the centre bulging in, followed by a craßh and the drawing of the two ends of the fabric from the approaches to the bridge; which then drifted en masse to sea. This occurred at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, and no accident fortunately happened, the last passengers having crossed the bridge half-an-hour before it " cleared for Guam." {Grey River Argus, April 6.] After an unusual spell of fine weather, there were signs on Saturday morning that rain was to be expected. But it was not anticipated that the downpour would set in so rapidly or so heavily as it did. Towards Saturday evening rain-clouds began to pass over the Coast from the north-west, and even before rain had fallen in Greymouth the river by its discoloration gave evidence that the affluents of the Grey had been considerably increased in volume. The expectation, that the overladen clouds would break was realised in the evening, and rain commenced to descend in that steady pertinacious manner which always presages a continuous downfall of great proportions. Those who were old denizens of Greymouth knew tolerably well that with such a rainfall, and such a wind nearly north, a heavy fresh was to be expected, and none of them could be surprised to find, on getting up yesterday morning, that the river was running nearly breast high. The quantity of debris, snags, brushwood, and occasional bits of weather-boarding, scantling, and other articles indicated that the flood had fairly set in up-country, and that should the weather not abate a submergence of the lower parts of the town was unavoidable. By three o'clock the whole of the back portion of the lower township was more or less covered with water, and the appearances were bo

bad thai; many families resolved at once to remove themselves to higher ground, making tho best provision they could for the safety of their effects by piling them as high as possible within the dwellings. A lull in the weather occurred about five o'clock, and it was considered possible that the worst was over, but in about an hour the rain fell heavier than ever, and although the tide was falling, the river was a foot or mere higher that it was at high tide. The rain continued to pour and the river to rise until it became almost inevitable that at the time we now write (after midnight) a repetition of the last great flood would occur. But the stone embankment at the lower end of the town prevented anything like a strong current along the old tidal creek. And it may be said that to this work the safety of a large portion of the town is due. The flojding of the back sections was mainly due to tho backwater sent up the Lagoon, but at a later period it became a serious question whether they were not likely to be swept avsay by the liver itself. Great effoits were made during the evening to provide means for rescuing the residents on the low-lying parts of the town, and it is satisfactory to state that they were successful.