THE FLOODS.

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

THE FLOODS.

TEMUKA DISTRICT. On Friday, 27th ult., at about 8 p.m., heavy rain began to fall, and the dark ap- | pearance of the sky all round told us that the downpour was widespread. Previous to this rainfall the near range of mountains were snow clad down to their very base. A change in the atmosphere from a hard frost to a soft and warm rain betokened to those who have lived long in tbi3 district a visitation which we have luckily been long exempt from before and after the great flood of 1868. The months of June and July, almost year after year, brought their periodical floods to this district. For the last four or five years, however, Temuka has been highly-favored by being exempt from any heavy flood in our local river. The rain continuing all through Saturday, without interruption, was proof positive to the old settlers that we were not to be let off this time. Late. on Saturday night, as the rain continued to fall in bucketfuls and the sky as dark as ink, those who were in exposed situations began to make preparations for the almost certain visitor. Notwithstanding the great fall of water, the Temuka river showed no signs of being affected, even up to five or six o'clock on Sunday morning. Restless as many of the settlers in our little town were throughout the night, at six o'clock on Sunday morning they were completely thrown off their guard, some coming to the conclusion that we were to escape once more. The wind, whioh had blown with gusts throughout the night, all at once ceased, but this only to allow the anxious ones to hear the more easily the roars of the waters, which now told distinctly that the fell destroyer was at hand. By eight o'clock on Sunday morning it came down like a wall, while those who were turning over in their mind the question whether or not they should stick to their domiciles, or quit them for higher quarters, were speedily summoned to surrender by the entrance of the cruel enemy, who is no respecter of persons. So rapid was the encroachment of the destroyer that some families had not time given them to put onor pack up any wearing apparel. The experienced ones, knowing the effect of a former visit by their watery foe became busied in removing their families to higher ground, some in raising the goods in their stores to the highest elevation possible within the premises, while others were busy in removing their ehattels from the enclosures which prevented them from having a chance for their life, by placing them at liberty to face the destroying enemy. Onward the stern foe pressed, and hastily the frightened ones retreated before it. From eight to ten o'clock encroachments upon the main street of the township showed that this time the town was not to get off skaithless. First one and then another of the business places were ruthlessly entered, and without a warrant it took possession of the tenements. Of course those whose residences were situated within the floodmark of ordinary floods were first visited aud had to clear out without further parley. Some who were not fortunate enough to do this had to remain and see what would turn up. Two families in particular on the banks of the Temuka, and facing the road that, leads to the river and on to the Waitohi j and Kakahu, were in this predicament, and the river still rising an effort must be made to rescue those who were in danger. At this time some of our active citizens began to think of the appliances at hand, j in the event of the river continuing to rise, and seeing no appearance of the flood abating telegraphed to Timaru to the railway authorities to forward a boat without delay, as life was in danger. This was a wise precaution, and it is but justice.to say was speedily responded to. While this was going on Messrs Phillip and , Joseph Wearing, by a most determined effort, were successful, in bringing away three young children, some' of them almost without a stitch of clothing to protect them from. the cold, Although thus far successful, on their return to bring away the husband.s and wives they did not fare so well, as the water having risen so considerably they found on attempting to reach the cottages that they had to swim for it. Here some obstructions presented themselves in the shape of wire fences, which had been displaced by the passing current. The consequence was that one after the other found themselves submerged, and one of the horses, making his way to his own quarters, threading his way most skillfully through the labyrinth of posts and rails, wire, wood, and other obstructions which impeded his voyage. Meantime one of the brothers, by catching hold of the tail of the remaining horse, got piloted to a flax bush, where the horse, thinking he had had enough of it, refused to budge." By and bye, however, both got landed safely without further mishap ; but it is not saying toot much to say it was a narrow squeak with, both of them. Another attempt was, made by a gentleman from the Ashburton (Mr R. Friedlander), who, being a good horseman and having, a powerful horse, hoped that he would be more fortuuate in rescuing the remaining inmates of .the two cottages. Many horsemen accompanied him so far, but were afraid to press forward. ' Alone he went at it, and for a time made his way through the water, the horse showing that he could make use of his paddles in grand style, but again the wire fencing, that curse of all sports and pastimes, put in their stern veto, and said thus far shalt thoti go and no further. The horse got entangled in the enemies meshes, the rider only by great dexterity and a superhuman effort being able to save himself from going down the stream. Meantime a telegram was received from the stationmaster at Timaru that a boat would be sent out if at all possible to do so. At this point the rain ceased, and shortly afterwards the water ceased to rise. For about half an hour it seemed to hesitate whether to rise or fall, but, by marks set here and there it became evident that the worst was past. The boat that had been telegraphed for made its appearance piloted by a trolly, and accompanying the crew we observed Mr Lowe, the Ohrist- , church Engineer, and Mr Jones, the

j Timaru stationmaster. On enquiry we i found that the latter two gentlemen had ! used almost superhuman exertions in order to comply with the request forwarded by Mi" Gray, the approach to the Washdyke bridge having been washed away. It required considerable in- | genuity; to enable them to pass the boat from the Timaru side over to the line on this side of the bridge. Too great praise cannot be bestowed on the two gentlemen named for the readiness with which they responded to the call for help. In the township several anxiotxs ones were turning over in their mind what steps to take to rescue the families in peril in the event of the flood continuing to rise. No one could for a moment entertain the thought of leaving them to their fate should the night close upon the risingtorrent. Before the boats arrived all danger seemed to be past, and possibly there may be some grumblers to say such an appeal to the railway manager was unnecessary. It is easy to talk in this way when the danger is past, but when MiGray sent the message none could tell how much more of this flood of water wes to be, and we feel sure the townspeople appreciate the philanthropic efforts made by Mr Gray in this trying moment, nor will they allow him to be a loser in a pecuniary way for this humane action. When the boat arrived the crew, accompanied by other willing- hands, lost no time in floating her alongside the cottages, where the two couples, thankful to make their escape, were lifted into the boat and taken to warm and comfortable quarters for the night. The fright received by the two families, who are both comparative strangers to these things, could be no light matter. To all appearances it was not so by Mrs Long at least, who still remains ir. a very nervous state. From 11 o'clock on Sunday forenoon the water began to abate rapidly, and by 3 p.m. the streets were all cleared, and individual owners busy collecting each one his own. An interesting incident about this time took place. It appeared that a horse in a stable at the rear of Mr Essery's had been left tied up and the door shut. For four or five hours he had stood almost up to the neck in water. The only wonder is that he did not get the cramps and die. A young man named "Charles Smith pluckily swam from the street across the broad sheet"of water, entered the stable, unloosed the suffering animal, opened the door, and let the prisoner go free, The captive was not long in taking advantage of the offer to flee for his life. Well acquainted as he was with the various tracks all around his lonely abode when the water was not on the ground, yet he became quite bewildered when he had to strike out for the distant shore, taking first one direction and then another till at last, like the nigger, he seemed to have made rip his mind to " gib it up." Some bold spirits one after another plunged into the lake, and by one stratagem after another managed to get the animal within their reach, but drawing towards the shore a rash wight, by laying hold of the tail, was sent spinning back to the turbulent stream, while the horse, with better judgment than his would-be ■ savers, steered himself at last to terra firma, where, with tail erect, he soon left the crowd amidst a storm of cheers, seeming little the worse for his long immersion. As darkness again came on everyone seemed thankful that no lives were lost. At one time it was believed that a man had been washed from his horse and drowned when making his approach to the Teinuka bridge, but shortly afterwards it leaked out that it was a Maori. The crowd now breathed more freely, it being the general opinion that it was impossible to drown a Maori, and sure enough, without the supernatural aid of Te Whiti, he managed to swim to the railway bridge, minus his horse, after a series of a 1 retches from one flax bush to another, going with the current towards the sea. Thus may be said ended another great flood, coming the nearest the great flood of any we have yet had to deal with. The damage to the town property is not large, and with the exception of Mr Lee, who seems to be visited with ill after ill, all will soon be forgotten. Of the extent of the damage in other parts of the district our information is rather limited. WAITOHI. At Waitohi the damage to cropping is said to be serious, and the number of fences carried away far greater than on any former visitation, the flood being the highest ever experienced. Looking from a height in the Temuka township nothing was to be seen at one time but a broad sheet of water almost as far as the eye could reach inwards. The whole of the Waitohi Flat was nearly submerged, a complete river running down the main roads. Some paddocky of wheat lately sown will be completely destroyed, while even worse than that, that which was well above ground will not now be without patches here and there, either washed out or rotted in the ground. Bridges and culverts have been very much, destroyed, while all along the road the clay bases of the roadside fences are terribly undermined and encroached upon ; even houses on the flat were submerged so that the inhabitants had to leave them, while 3 considerable number of stock was destroyed. We heard of one settler in particular who was nearly ruined during the great flood, having again to stand by and see his flocks considerably thinned, and the carcases floating down the stream. Several horses and cattle are reported as having been drowned. KAKAHU. The flood in this part of the district is reported to be greater than any previous one, the water reaching up to the girders of the high bridge so'lately erected across the Kakahu river on the main road, flooding Mr Hay's paddocks" up to the very stock-yards, causing great destruction to fences, and also loss of some stock. On the road itself large holes, or rather gullies, have been formed, the force of the water driving everything before it into the adjoining paddocks, and making the road dangerous to pedestrians. The bridge, however, escaped without injury. All round the Temuka on the one hand and the Kakahu on the other, the riveis seemed to rival each pother in the work of destruction. WINCHESTER. The flood in the Waihi river was much increased by the overflow of the Orari, which was in high flood, filling all the

creeks and flooding much the lands belonging to the Messrs Barker and Grigg, and towards the sea that of Mr Alfred Cox and others, . but with the exception of fences and a few culverts, we hear of no great damage. GERALDINE. The Geraldine road for miles seemed to have beeu taken complete possession of by the overflowing of the Waihi river. Approaching the town of Geraldine itself one meets with the evidences of very great inroads, near the Bush Inn the shingle being completely scooped out, leading to the belief that this part of the township will some day become a prey to this devouring element, indeed it might be consideredla marvel if it did not. The banks are low, and composed of shingle, and this of a very loose character, offering but a poor resistance to the overflowing of the river. Fences here, even more than in other parts of the district, seem to have been the object of attack, wire fences, posts and rails, and sod fencing of all sorts having been swept away, and paddocks of whea f -, particularly that of Joseph Lewis and Wm. Ilawkes, utterly destroyed. PLEASANT VALLEY. . We have as yet received no account of the damage done.. It is reported that the Valley school has been washed'away, and the river forced itself further on to the traffic road. The Haihaitemoana was heavy in flood, carrying away fences of all sorts. The amount of cropping in these parts in the low-lying ground is not large. Many landslips on the sides of the hills are visible. MILFORD. Here the full force of the flood was felt in the direction of the bed of the Opihi, or rather the narrow opening at the junction of the Opihi and Temuka, rivers, before the same enters the Milford lagoon. The bridge which leads from Milford towards the river crossing, at the place between Martin Dunn's and James Smith's, was completely washed away, and the road of course made impassable. WASHDYKE. Our knowledge of this part is limited to what we learned from the boatmen and others, who told us of the flood washing away the approaches of the railway bridge, and we hear the carrying away of the traffic bridge on the road fre-m. the Washdyke to Timaru. ORARL This river was in heavy flood, but not so high as in the great flood, otherwise the volume of water in the Waihi would have been greater. As it was it flooded the Waihi creeks, and caused the water to rise as high as Mr in wood's mill on the Main South road. BANGITATA. The approaches to the bridge, as usual, were damaged, bu:. not to any serious extent. Much of the surrounding land was under water, and the damage to cropping and to feed must have been very great. The loss to farmers will be heavy, and 3ome of them little able to bear it after two disastrous years. The value of land in these parts will also be still further reduced. HINDS. This river was in heavy flood, spreading all over the country, and carrying away a large amount of the railway line. It is a remarkable fact that this river remained dry during the whole summer and autumn, causing great suffering to owners of stock, so much so that ifc was contemplated at one time to draw off a portion of the Ashburton. What the result of the present flood will be it is hard to tell, possibly it may restore the river to its former character of a continuous running stream. ASHBURTON. Much damage is done to fencing, and the approach to the bridge is damaged. It is remarkable that none of the railway bridges themselves have been des'royed, therefore although the damage to the line is extensive the loss will not be so heavy and the repairs of a nature that will be speedily set right. The flood in this province has been general. The Eakaia, Selwyn, Waimakar ri, all being in heavy flood, and the land adjoining being covered with water Kaiapoi, as usual, being a heavy sufferer. t Christchurch does not seem to nave been flooded so much as in the great flood. Amberley, though, was very much flooded, and at Bangiora the damage is great. SOUTH OF TIMARU. The flood was also heavy, the Otaio and Pareora being much flooded, but we have not yet particulars to hand. We hear of an engine beiDg bogged in a hole made in the line. We are sorry to hear that the Otaio road bridge has been washed away, which cost, we believe, something like L 17,000. All mails and traffic are completely stopped, and will likely be for a day or two yet.