FLOODS AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1507, 18 May 1886, Page 3

FLOODS AT CHRISTCHURCH.

The most severe flood ever experienced in Christchurch— excepting the great food of 1868, which was confined to localities affected by the river—occurred on Saturday'last.. This flood was general. The rainfall for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. was 6.93 inches and is unprecedented, After this gauge was taken .1.12 inches fell, making with Thursday's fall a total 0f.8.87 inches. During the gale the Avon rose about four feet in (own, 18 inches from the floor of some of the bridges. It was at its highest half an hour past noon. Then the rain ceased and the water began to abate. By dusk had fallen 18 inches, and on Sunday morning the river was but little above the usual level. Showers fell on Saturday afternoon and.night and also on Sunday morningandthe weather is still gloomy. The principal mischief done by the river was in the north-western part of the city, where a large number of families had to be removed from their houses, some of whioh were flooded three feet deep. Carts were sent by the City Council, and boats were busy all the morning in rescuing these peop'e. The adjacent suburb, a portion of Avonside, suffered similarly, and Oxford and Cambridge Terraces were also loodtd wherever the river bank is

low, many families being driven from their homes. Thejlowlying country between Christcrmrch and New Brighton wns covered with water from the river, which near New Brighton School wis over half-a-inile wide. In the southern part of the city—round the Catholic Church—the rain water formed a lake several seres in extent. Traffic on the Ferry Road was stopped, the fires in the tramway engines being put ont by the water. Many residents of Woolston had to leave their houses, one man named Cord being rescued after he had passed the night on the roof of his house. At 8 on Sunday morning the water guiihed the fires of the engines at the drainage pumping station. No serious damage to the sewers, howerer, has been reported. The South Belt was under water in several places, one of the worst being near the railway station. The railway lines were not interrupted, except at Little River, where the main bridge on the Akaroa road was swept away. The Akaroa, Davaucbell Bay and Sumner telegraph lines were the only wires interrupted ; but they were soon restored. At Governor's Bay a house belonging to Villiam Cowlin was shifted by a landslip and completely wrecked. The Sumner road was temporarily blocked by a landslip. The main stream of the Waimakiriri was only slightly in fresh, but the north branch was much flooded, though there was no appearance of danger from the overflow.