The Floods.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 55, 5 August 1890, Page 2

The Floods.

One of the heaviest down-pours of rain which has been experienced for several years occurred on Sunday, and all the rivers and creeks were in high flood. The Wakamarina River rose higher than has been known for several years past, the water going through the windows of Mr Horton’s house, which is on the banks. The most serious damage which we have heard of in this part of the district is the washing away of Messrs Brownlee & Co.’s bridge over the Wakamarina, and we understand it will take nearly a month to replace it. We hear that the stringers of the bridge were recovered some distance down the river. The destruction of the bridge will mean a considerable loss and inconvenience, as the logs for the mill cannot be brought in until it has been replaced. Slips have occurred along the Nelson and Blenheim roads of a more or less serious nature, and Mr George Smith is a great sufferer from one which occurred at the back of his cow-shed, several hundred tons of stuff having come down, smashing in the back of the shed, and filling up the bails to the top of the posts, about five feet in depth. Fortunately, the slip occurred on Sunday afternoon, and Mr Smith took bis cows out before the main body of the mullock came into the shed, otherwise half the cows would have stood a chance of being smothered. It will take some time to clear the slip away, and we do not envy Mr Smith his task. Our friend Dick, who was using a long-handled shovel, jocularly remarked in diggers’ phraseology that they were on the wash-dirt, but had not got into the gutter yet, and so far had only struck some big boulders. Beyond a few sheep being drowned we have not heard of any greater damage than the above.

We hear that Blenheim, was considerably flooded, and the water was in several places of business, and some of the post-office officials could not get to work even in a cab.

The coach could not get through on account of the flood in the river and slips on the Tua Marina road. The railway-line was damaged between Picton and Blenheim, and the train could only get as far as Tua Marina, the mails being carried on a truck the rest of the distance. The Blenheim mails will be brought round via Picton and Cullensville this afternoon. Mahakipawa. Biggest Flood on Record. Great Damage to Claims. The Town In Danger. [By Telegraph.] (From Our Own Correspondent.) August 4. Biggest flood on record. Great damage to claims. Thousands of feet of burning washed away. Some claims completely levelled. The Hibernian, Just-in-Time, and Long Time, comparatively uninjured, The Golden Hope lost seventeen hundred feet of timber- All sluicing claims suffered badiy. The town is in danger, as twenty feet of terrace has been washed away, bringing the creek within ten feet of McMillan’s house. The water flowed into the old bed, behind Master’s hotel. Had the flood continued the whole creek must have been through the town. The bridge over the road was blocked, flooding Baker’s shop, and both fords are gutted out. Meeting to-night re erection of break-water. Levy’s upper store is in danger from slip. Track also blocked. The most extensively read hook in Spain at present is said to be the Bible. They cannot, it is stated by a reliable authority, print Bib es fast enough at Madrid to meet the great demand which has arisen for them within recent times in Spain and Portugal.