The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 158, 2 July 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1879.

p. _ - a full report of the flood, which . n -l found in another part of this issue, 'Twill bfc " seen * nat ** was ar s ' lor ' : ~ CT _ that caused so much death ''ion in 1868. In the township and destiuci *■ of Temuka x<- did not come up to the flood on that occasion by about two feet, and the damag * f ° ne w comparatively. trifling. Several lloUS es, built m spite of many warnings/on the low-lymg ground, have well as the premises occupied by Mr . Lee, and which Mr Martin last time lot* so heavi y on that memorable occasion'- H people will persistently expend their in such a risky manner, and if peopie will occupy I puch houses, to the eminent, danger of their own lives and that of the\.r family's, it is not to be wondered at if thow fellow settlers withhold their sympathy m such cases. The worst of it is the town' sutlers by such rash speculations, but for a few such there would have been no need for alarm, as it is now well known that beyond a certain point the river does .not encroach, as plainly shown by the action of the great flood ".of ten years ago whe.u it rises to a certain height it speedily spreads out all over the country, clearly ■ demonstrating that it is a natural impossibility for Temuka to become more flooded than it was on that occasion ; further, if Milford Harbour was once opened no flood would so affect Temuka. This is one comfort, and it is also an assurance to owners of property that, even although floods may overtake us, with ordinary precautions the losses need not be so great, but if people will bury their places of business in the ground, after such repeated warnings they deserve to suffer, but although the town has not, and need not suffer much, yet the country all round has got another serious blow ' which cannot full to have a depressing • effect upon the business of the place, ills • it is said do not come singly, and as there l are proverbial lumps of good luck so wo are I experiencing lumps of ill luck, after a

couplo of bud harvests and low prices to be visited by a devastating flood is enough to make the stoutest heart quail. There is one consolation, although a very poor one, that we are not alone in this-matter. Other parts of this province, and we fear other provinces in the .Middle Island, are fellow sufferers with us. Fortunately this visitation, so far as Temuka district is concerned, is without loss of life. Not so Timaru. We regret to hear that with the wrecks that have taken place there the captain, his wife, and three others have gone down to a watery grave. Although there has been no loss of life there has been a great amount of destruction of property in fences, bridges, culverts, and what is to the farmer worse, loss of crops ; with the comparatively small breadth sown, and the destruction by this flood, even shou Id no further calamity befall us, our prospects are not bright; money dear ana scarce, cereals low in price, with low prices ruling for all kinds of stock, and now much feed destroyed, the tillers of the landj which a few years ago were the envy of all, are nVvy almost the objects for sympathy by all. \ Our farmers are a deserving class ; night and day their care and toil is never ended. Truly New Zealand is just now being smitten upon the left cheek, and upon the right at this very moment when we are suffering through a visitation of Providence others may be suffering in another way. What may be going on in the North Island this very day we know not. That a native war is upon us we do not believe ; yet even that would almost be better than the present torture and suspense in which many settlers are held. We have our floods, droughts, and winds, they have their trials of another kind. We are not to despair because we have an adverse turn, but by doubling our diligence, and by greater frugality, endeavour to tide over matters till better days come. The extent of the present flood we do not know at the time we write ; possibly before going to press further particulars may come to hand. Only this we know, that wrecks have taken place at Timaru, approaches to bridges along the whole line to Christchurch washed away, ballasting removed, culverts burst up, and in some instances bridges damaged. All communication with north and south cut off we can only wait.