DISASTROUS FLOODS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 232, 19 January 1877, Page 2

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

GREAT DAMAGE.

As we expected, the continuous downpour of rain which has been experienced during the past week has not been without its effects. From the Timaru Herald of yesterday we take the following : The heavy rain which has prevailed throughout the district since Sunday last appears to have culminated in the back country towards Tuesday evening, causing considerable floods. The full extent of these is not yet known, but they appear to have done great damage to the railways at various points. The train which left Timaru on Tuesday afternoon at a quarter to four was stopped at North Bangitata, owing to the line being rendered impracticable by floods near the Hinds. The train remained at North Eangitata all night, much to the inconvenience, no doubt, of the passengers, as there is no accommodation there whatever, except what'the railway station afforded. Had the train been brought back to Orari, as it might easily have been, the benighted travellers would have had of comfortable quarters at Wad worth's excellent hotel. We are unable to give any particulars as to the extent of the damage done at the Kinds. On the Opawa line a clear break in the railway was made for a distanc3 of about ten chains, between Sutherland's and the Cave : and no tragic has since been praclicibie beyond rh.-tt point. The force of ivoddy ten or iw dvo lee: o'.:■': of ilu , -,.ivi::g guard" ox the train, a-; a iiev; siddig. 'da- crops rLhont th-.-re ar-p.ar to have 3:1.1 re.l a :.oud deri, a;id we Lear or a s.-L'ii. .;■:=, '.■■e are i.u.Vr'-r;.d. had to (.seapo in a r , joisci-.:.-j-i correii;'. acrojs vie r-.a.o'V-t Estate, near the l-o bestead to tee «a. The water yesterday morning was from five to six feet deep at Seadowri, and running eighteen or twenty miles an hour. The railway line was carried away bodily for about 20 chains, and deposited some 15ft. to the cast of the bank. The culverts stood wonderfully, though the pressure was tremendous, and the bank on which the railway rests also did very well. Young's Creek, which has long been quite ! dry, became a brimming torrent, and the approaches to the bridge were carried away for about five feet on either aide. The crops and fences in the neighborhood suffered severely, the sod walls giving way in all directions, and the masses of | corse-hedging thus liberated adding to the weight of debris carried along by the tide. Sheaves of corn, roots of various kinds, and all sorts of farm produce were heaped up wherever a resting-place occurred ; and the whole scene was a strange and miserable one. ' Mr. Jones, Traffic Manager at Timaru, exerted himself to the utmost to get the injury to the line repaired without delay, and much praise is due to him and the rest of the railway staff for their promptitude and energy. A considerable gang of experienced hands set to work early yesterday morning to restore the displaced portion of the line to its proper location ; and at one o'clock Mr. Jones and Mr. Simms, accompanied by several persons interested in the matter, and an additional staff of workmen, started from Timaru with an engine and three trucks, laden with sleepers and materials for propping up the line where the bank had" given way. The scene of the mishap was reached in half an hour ; the water was found to have subsided, though still rushing through the culvert 'with great force ; and the workmen made considerable progress in straightening the line. The effect of the ravage created by the swift flow of a body of water was extraordinary, and needed to be witnessed to be understood. The railway had been shifted clean- off the bank for about a quarter of a mile, and laid in a graceful curve ten or twelve feet to the right. All the ballast was washed off, and lay in heaps about the reserve. The object of the workmen was to move the. whole length of displaced line gradually, and with as little strain as possible, back to its original position. This was effected by the skilful manipulation of crow-bars, with a speed, and in a manner, which indicated that every one of the men knew how to do his own work, and also how to co-operate with Ms neighbour. The packing of the line was begun at two o'clock, and it is hoped, by vigorqus exertion, some sort of traffic may be rendered practicable by this morning, LATEST INTELLIGENCE FROM TEMUKA. Our special correspondent sends us the following :—The Opihi and Temuka Rivers 'rose very rapidly about eight o'clock on Tuesday evening. Luckily no loss of life occurred. Norton's family j residing near to the Opihi, were rescued just in time. Lee also got away safely, but he is a considerable • loser in his store. CoUins' family were saved by some gentlemen on horseback; there were about five feet of water in his house. Almost everyone in the township of Temuka turned out, and great credit must be given to Messrs, M'Pherson and Buchanan, and Mr. Smith (postmaster), the latter having swam with a little child over to Mutch's Hotel from Vine-street,. There is no-railway communication, and everything seems to be blockaded. The approaches to the Opihi

Bridge on the north side were washed away° and the bridge itself is broken in the middle. The river is running very InVh near Spillanes. The Waihi River was bank-and-bank on Tuesday. No considerable damage has been done in Temuka. _____„______