Great Damage To Property. (BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Westport, July 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 210, 9 July 1887, Page 5

Great Damage To Property. (BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Westport, July 7.

The Bullcr River to day is in the heaviest flood seen for years. The stream is running bank high, and the rain fetill continues. The other cieeks ann livers in the district are also in flood. All the land tiaffic and shipping- movements are suspended. No damage so far is reported, except thai the derrick belonging to the McLean Bridge was washed away, and the wreck of the Occola during the night, which has been stranded on the bar a fortnight past, was driven seaward, and is supposed to be broken up. A strong current was running out of the river at the time, and a heavy sea breaking.

Chri&tchurch, Wednesday. There is a heavy flood in the Ashley, Waimakariri, and Selwyn Rivers, caused by the warm rain last night and yesterday melting the snow on the ranges. At Bealey 4| inches rain fell in 24 hours, ending this morning. In the Rangiora district a large area was flooded by the Ashley, but the town escaped. A man named Bannon at Coldstream had to pass the night in a tree, 5 feet of water being in his house. He was rescued at ten this morning. The Northern Railway was blocked at Weka Pass by a landslip. The Oxford lines were also interrupted. Communication has now been restored. At Raiapoi the Waimakariri broke through the protective works on the north side of the river. The Woollen Factory had to stop operations, and the greater portion of the, town is flooueu, VI some ulflilA ! i feet Jeep. B oais had to be used in rescuing the people from their houses. A quantity of stock was drowned near Kaiapoi, but there was no loss of human life. The railway was interrupted at Stewarts Gully, south of Kaiapoi, but is now restored. The works on the south of the Waimakariri, protecting Christchurch, was slightly damaged. No damage i« apprehended, as the river is re ported to be falling. At nine p.m. the Selwyn flooded the hotel and railway-station 3 feet deep. Rakaia was slightly flooded, but has not done serious damage. Rain is still falling heavily, though not continuously.