TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5461, 27 September 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(from odr own correspondent.) Carterton, Thursday. Mr. S. J. Stedman, barrister and solicitor, was found drowned this evening. He lias been absent since Tuesday, but was not missing till this evening, when a search party was formed; and as Mr. Parker had seen him proceeding towards the bush in which it was surmised he had lost himself, they advanced in that direction, and succeeded in finding him in a small stream bordering the bush, he having apparently walked over the bank into about four feet of water, and made no effort to extricate himself. Ah inquest will be held to-morrow. (per press agency.) Greytown, Thursday. At a public meeting at the Town Hall last night rc branch railway, resolutions were unanimously passed thanking the late deputation for their successful advocacy of the claims of Greytown, and also specially recognising the services of Mr. Wakelin, which resolution was presented to him on vellum. Grahamstown, Thursday. A presentation of books was made to-day to the mistress of the Waitohi school, who is leaving. Gold has been got in the crosscut from the 650 ft. level. The water-race is about to be completed, Ministers having promised to reintroduce tho vote of last session which was allowed to lapse, .CIIRTSTCHORCir, Thursday. The gale and hot winds throughout the province have continued to-day, and the result has' been more serious than was anticipated, indeed tho rising of the principal rivers has not been so great since 1370, and the damage done has been very serious all over the province, to say nothing of houses, roofs, and chimneys that have been blown down in nearly every township in Canterbury. The railway has suffered a good deal, and traffic has been stopped between Christchurch and the south as well as on the northern Hue. Three spans of the Kangitata bridge, 120 ft. long, have been washed away, so cutting off all communication north and south of that place. The Bakaia has also greatly risen, and if the hot wind continues it is feared the bridge will be impassable to-morrow. The river is a mile and a half wide, and the • water is nearly level with the top of the bridge. The Waimakairiri rose very high, and stopped the train froinruuningthismorniug. The injury to the line is near the old place, and tho protective works so far are ineffectual. After the rivers have subsided railway travelling will probably be resumed in a day or so. But the Eangitata break must continue for some days, if not weeks, as more of the bridge will probably go during to-night. A passenger by the train from Timaru to Christchurch yesterday morning, leaving Timaru at a quarter past seven, describes the journey as an immensely exciting one. Iq. the vicinity of the townships the air at times seemed to be laden with awkward missiles, such as planks, sheets of galvanised iron, rails, tins, &o. Stoppages to clear the line were frequent. When nearing the Ashburton station one of these stoppages occurred, and at that time the scene was wild in the extreme, —match lining and heavier planks were being hurled with terrific force; and suddenly a crash was heard, which made the occupants of one of the carriages drop on to the floor fearing that some of the planks were about to behead them—a heavy plank had in fact struck the carriage, crashing through some of the panels under the windows; A few minutes later the verandah of Messrs. Montgomery’s new building was being swayed up and down, “ the glass flying from it in showers almost like snow." On; several buildings the iron roofing was blowing about as if it were so much paper. ■ At a meeting of the Board of Governors to-day a resolution to have three terms in the year instead of two was referred to a select committee. Charleston, Thursday. A young boy named Perrett, aged seven years, broke his arm while playing “ see-saw ” this morning at the State school. The schooner Wild Wave, now in harbor, suffered severly by knocking about last night. A heavy sea during Tuesday night threw the vessel on the rooks, where she remained till last night, when she again floated off with a fearful sea. All her linos parted, and for half an hour she was tossed about at the mercy of the waves, but eventually she was beached in a safe position near tho old cemetery, where she now lies. There were four persons on board at the time of the casualty, namely, Captain Grubb, one seaman, Harbormaster Cross, and another gentleman. The affair caused no little excitement while the vessel was knocking about iu the bay. Ashburton, Thursday. Two double sets of piles were carried away in the Kangitata Bridge this morning by heavy freshes iu tho river. The 7.5 train from Ashbutou halted at South Eangitata. Several of the passengers effected a passage across the bridge on tho planks, and were met by tho Timaru train, which returned to that town. The express from Christchurch was not allowed to proceed beyond Ashburton. ’The 11.5 train from Ashburton proceeded to South Bangitata, where the passengers are now waiting. It is supposed they will have to return to-night. Mr. Conyers, accompanied, by Mr. Lowe,left Bakaia for the scene of the disaster this morning. It is believed that It will take several days to repair the damage. The South Bakaia bridge is also iu a very critical condition. It is feared the up train will be unable to cross this afternoon. ■All the rivers are flooded. Yesterday’s gale uplifted several buildings, levelled many chimneys, and caused other considerable damage throughout ths district.