THE NORTH WESTERLY GALE.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 83, 2 October 1878, Page 2

THE NORTH WESTERLY GALE.

The following are additional particulars of the ravages committed by the north-westerly gale of last week. The towns and stations on both the northern and southern lines of railway suffered severely. The train leaving- Christchurch at 7 55 a.m., and due at 10.20, did not reach Sheffield till 12.20 p.m., being delayed three times between Kirwee and Horndon Junction, and then they had to leave the carriages at Horndon junction and carry the passengers in the guard's van to Sheffield. The engine arrived covered with dust. At Sheffield a large portion of the roof of the goods-shed was blown away. The Hawkins' station was blown across the line, and the roof of the goods-shed at Kacecourse Hill was blown oft. At Chertsey a store and a saddler's shop were blown to the ground, and a portion of the roof of the goo's shbd was sent flying a distance of many hundreds of feet. At Coalgate the roof of the goods-shed was also torn off by the wind, and blown away a distance of several miles. At Horndon Junction the house of the telegraphist was turned completely round, and blown of the piles. The chimney was blown down, and part of the house smashed in. At South Rakia the river was very high, the wa+er was almost on a level with the \ op of the bridge. Ashburton presented the appearance of a sacked town. The main streets were strewn with broken glass, sheets of iron and timber. The shops fronting on East street were boarded up, and jjhose bold enough to venture out were obHged to seek an entrance through the back premises. Walking on the streets on the streets on Wednesday forenoon was dangerous, both from the violence of the wind as well as from pieces of timber, sheets of iron, glass, &c, flying about, and during that period all business was suspended. At Doyleston several houses were swept away. All business was stopped the greater part of the day. The chapel belonging to the Free Methodists at Oxford, a very large build ing, and nearly new, was literally blown to pieces. The Church of England has

one side blown in, and will have to be taken down, and nearly all the stables of any age have been blown to piecess, and in the space of one mile along the road twenty-two chimneys have succumbed to the storm. The lock-ups at the stations were blown to pieces, also a chapel at View Hill. All the roads and tramways through the bush are blocked up with fallen trees. Large pieces of scantling 4x3 were taken up and carried over the fence by the wind. A great de;d of damage was also done at West Oxford.

The Waimakariri was still rising on Monday, and grave fears were entertained as to the. safety of many portions of the safety of many portions of the township. The river had broken through below Fairbairn's into the North branch, and was rapidly scouring away the land. There is no chance of railway traffic being resumed before the end of the week. The Traffic Department of the railway are severely blamed at Kaiapoi. The 12.15 train from Amberley was met by the gale on the bridge, and the top of one of the carriages was lifted completely off and blown away to a considerable distance. The train was compelled to take shelter under the lee of some gum trees, where it remained for some time.

The rivers of Westland were very high all last week, suspending all commuuicatiou. Rain fell continuously. Telegrams of Saturday from Central Otago tell .of heavy rains, immense landslips, and great damage to roads. Fresh telegrams from the Otago country confirm the accounts of great damage clone by the flood. The Dunedin train could not proceed beyond Loveil's Flat in cansequence of the rise in the Kaitangata lakes. Four miles of railway were under water at noon. No deaths are reported so far. We learn from Lawrence on Sept. 30, that the Molynenx river has never been known so high. The Beaumont bridge, twelve miles from here, was completely carried away yesterday afternoon. The bridge was private property, and was purchased by J. T. Kitchen, of Moa Flat Station, two years ago. The County Council was negotiating fou its purchase to open it for full traffic. The Waitaki on Monday was to be seen from Johnston's Accommodation House on the South Bank to the cutting on the North. The flood rose until it splashed over the flooring of the bridge, when, finding a vent some distance above Johnston's house, it burst over the old bed, carrying away sheep, cattle, and horses, by dozens. The railway bridge, although contending against twice the force of that over the Rangitata, stood unmoveable, and sustained not the slightest damage. One mob of 2000 sheep, which had been put on an island some miles above the bridge were washed away wholesale, aud only a very small number reached the bank. A mob of about 50 horses, and 24 head of cattle, were also reported to have perished. In the Mackenzie Country the lakes rose in an extraordinary rapid manner. The Tekapo Lake rose 7ft in about two hours on Saturday evening, the narrow chasm through which the waters find an exit by the Tekapo River, being quite insufficient to carry them off. Mr Cowan's accommodation house at the Ferry was flooded, - aud he and his family were forced to take to the high ground behind.

During the late gale a settler at W.iihi Bush, had his arm, broken. His chimney was blown down, and on his going out to see what had happened, he was himself thrown down by the violence of the wind, and injured as stated.

litest from otago.

. Okomwell. Sept 22, 5 p.m. The flood was renewed by the rain last night, and there has been awful destruction of property. Hoises, cattle, houses, and furniture, have been drifting past all day. The Clyde, Bannockbu-n, and Bendigo bridges have gone. The Cromwell bridge is just safe unless the flood increases ; the water is level with the top of the pk-rs. No lives are reported lost, but communication is interrupted in every direction, The dwellings on block 9, Cromwell, are in imminent danger. Roxburgh, Sept. 29, 5 p.m. The river has been rising all day. About half-past three a portion of the Cljde bridge came in contact with the Roxburgh bridge, causing it to show signs of giving way. Abo. t this time the river rose more rapidly, and the space under the arch was closing up, causing the bridge to catch a large quantity of timber coming down the stream. At four o'clock the bridge broke in the centre, going away like a large ship. Everything possible was done that could be thought of by the townspeople to save the bridge. There was a very heavy fall of rain. Although it looked bad all day, the weather has been fine. A man named Pliillip Mylrev?, while in the act of removing his belongings out of his house, which was in danger of being flooded, dropped dead. Alexandra, Sept. 22, 5 p.m. We had a tremendous flood to-day. The Clutha is seven feet higher than the greatest height reached on Thursday, aud is still rising. Tae water is just touching Theyer' store. Considerable alarm is felt for the safety of the township. The river is covered with wreck of all descriptions. Ttie wreck of Clyde Bridge passed here at 11.30 a.m. A saddled horse, with the body of a man attached by the stirrups, was seen noting down the river at Balclutha on I-iiday afternoon.