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Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 203, 17 January 1866, Page 5 (Supplement)

We learn that the handsome sum of £10, th proceeds of the late dramatic entertainment, has been handed over to the Ladies' Benevolent Society. Christmas sports at Hokitika were almost entirely interrupted by weather of extraordinary severity. The West Coast , Times reports : — " The extremely inclement weather that prevailed on Christmas Day, and the one preceding it, will cause them to be long remembered by the inhabitants of Hokitika, for an effectual damper was thrown uppn the festivities of the season. , The town was extensively decorated to welcome old Christmas. He came, however, with a frown upon his brow, storms and tempest heralding his approach, as if disdaining to accept the peace offerings held forth to him ; a fierce N.W. gale, accompanied by deluges of rain, sweepI ing over the township on Saturday night, j heralding his approach, driving every one of his votaries under shelter to escape ifs pitiless fury. On Sunday morning the gale raged with unabated fb.rce, the rain also continuing without intermission ; — and, alas for the decorations of ■ the previous day, what desolation was in Revell-street, The roadway was strewn with wreck — quite carpeted with green leaves, whilst gloom and despondency were legibyl written on the face of every person met with. Gibson's Quay, Sewell, Tancred, and Weld streets were submerged to such an extent that boats were plying in them ; the flood increasing so rapidly that it was at one time feared the residents of many of the houses would be driven to seek shelter in some of the higherbuilt edifices; and at eight o'clock on Sunday evening, at dead low water, some idea may be r formed of the extent of this freshet, when we state that the surface of the river was within three feet of the highest part of the wharf. It was most providential that it was then low instead of high water, or the results must have been most serious Everything was in confusion j every one seemed dismayed, and arrangement, were at onco made to remove those buildings in the greatest danger; and instead of smoking chimneys, and preparations for the forthcoming feast, gangs of men were to be see on Christmas morning removing houses boddy to safer positions, and taking down stores, Mr. Throckmorton i_, we are sorry to say, a heavy loser by this untoward .event, fo wards noon the sky cleared, the streets gradually oiling with minora from the Auckland and other diggings in the neighbourhood of Hokitika; and Hosing Day, radiant with entiles and sunshine, made some slight amends for the. disoomforfc «q4 disappointment! oswasiw^ bj $!9|si!if%i^