The Disaster at Bluff.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1915, Page 6

The Disaster at Bluff.

NARROW ESCAPE OF RESIDENTS ONRUSHINC FLOOD CAUSES IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. Pek Press Association. j Invercargill, January 23. ‘. Several had narrow escapes, Mrs Bullars being caught and knocked about before being rescued. The reservoir is situated at an altitude of 300 feet at the back of the town and a terrifying torrent swept down the gulley and' flooded every house across a width of 200 yards. The only indication was a rumbling sound like an engine blowing off steam. Then came the deluge, with an. awe-inspiring roar that sent people to their doors, and they escaped just in the nick of time, as a wall of water six feet high raced through the residences. Mr Stacker’s G-roomed house was completely .wrecked. The residence of Messrs McLean, Burtensham, Bullars, Bennett, Fig, and Hunter were seriously damaged, and the furniture ruined. Mrs Bullars, who attempted to save the valuables, was carried away by the flood, but was rescued by Trooper Waddel in a bruised condition. . ~ The water tore' huge gaps in the north side of the cricket ground and inundated the bowling green, which was covered with silt ; the water then passed through Hankinson’s foundry and the J- G. Ward gram stores, where it backed up six feet; thence it went over the railway yard into the .harbor. :P; The flood continued to flow down like a sluice for hours. - The loss to the occupiers is, irreparable. * Ward and Co. suffered most. I art of the iron store at the back was twisted, right round, and 1000 sacks of oats and 100. bales of gunnies were rendered practically worthless. The loss is estimated at £3OOO. At Mill and Co’s., the platform was high enough to save several thousands pf pounds worth of wool and hemp, about 1000 sacks of grain, and a quantity of gunnies beipg jammed up. 1 The loss and damage, including the cost of re-building the reservoir wall, varies between £IO,OOO and £12,000. ■ Fifteen private houses were damaged, seven seriously. The bowling green will be unplayable;for the rest of .the season. The wall of the reservoir was. raised some months ago, and the soil had not sefe. ..... The port is now without water for either fire or shipping purposes.