THE LATE BAD WEATHER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 148, 25 June 1877, Page 2

THE LATE BAD WEATHER.

The following clippings from our late West Coast exchanges of dates extending over the last fortnight show what rough weather haa been experienced on the western side of the Island:— The Westpart Times says: — The thunderstorm raging between midnight and 7 o'clock a.m. on Saturday was the heaviest experienced in this locality for a long time past. The rain fell in torrents, and the air was surcharged with electricity. At daybreak a strong sulphurous odour pervaded the whole town. The river for some hours rose steadily, showing that tbe storm prevailed far inland. The Charleston mailman reported that the rivers ou his route were all flooded, he having to swim his horse across at great peril. — During the heavy gale raging on Saturday morning, Mr William Riding's house at the Waimangaroa was blown over, and the owner, who happened to be the only oocupant, narrowly escaped with a few bruises and scratches. He was lying on his bunk ac the time and had much difficulty in freeing himself from the fallen roof and timbers.— From the G. I_. Atgus we take the 'following:'' —The heavy rain which set in about noon on Monday, and which has continued without intermission until the present time, has resulted iv a serious flood, and it is at present impossible to estimate the amount of damage that has been, or may be, done. Throughout yesterday fears were expressed that there would be a very heavy influx from the upper river and its tributaries, but it was not until 10 p.m. that any serious apprehensions were entertained. About that hour the backwater commenced to encroach, and at the time of our going to press the low-lying portion of the town was several feet under water. Early yesterday morning the p.s. Wallace, in attempting to make the wharf was, by the force of the current, washed over to the spit on the north Bide of the river, and took the ground, remaining firmly fixed there up to the time of our going to press. The position was, to say the least of it, a critical one; and grave apprehensions were felt as to what the result might be should she by the force of the current be suddenly washed from

ter position. The whole, of the low-lying-portion of the towa is flooded, and about midnight boats were plyißg in all directions. •^The weather during the last 48 hours* has, with regard to its stormy character, been-un- , preeedehted on ; this coast. With vesy littlev cessation a furious westerly gale\prevailed *• from Friday evening until yesterday evening, accompanied by storms of thunder and j lightning, and heavy downpours of hail and 1 rain. The sea presented a terrific spectacle, breakers mountains high extending out as the eye could reach, and rolling on the beach -with .enormous violence Inside the ..river, considerable damage has been done by the heavy current and high tides, tbe greater portion of the contractor's line for the harbor works having been washed away, the bridge across the lagoon left inaccessible, and the harbor works themselves being in a yery demoralised condition. Some damage also has been done to the newly-formed roadway near the Corporation wharf, and a good deal of the stone backing of that structure has also disappeared.