FLOODS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2759, 5 January 1895, Page 4

FLOODS.

Nelson, January 3, A heavy downpour of rain occurred up country yesterday beyond Brightwater, and floods have resulted. A small bridge on the Balgrove line near the Wai-iti bridge, known as Line's bridge, was rendered unsafe, and the afternoon train could proceed only to Wai-iti. The permauont way was washed out near Belgrove. Passengers were sent on and the repairs will take fully a day to effect. The reportu from the country districts are most distressing. In Motupiko Valley the flood was the highest on record. Gardens and crops were destroyed, sheep drowned, fences levelled, and much land washed away. Mr Eugene O'Conuor drove from the valley to-day in a light sulky, but had to take to the riverbed in \ Morris' gully. The river at Wai-iti was also in the highest flood known, and! overflowed, inundating the country. The ; Motupiko cart bridge, the bridges at Belgrove, Wakefield, and Pigeon Valley are stopped for traffic until they can be repaired, and the roads are scoured in all directions. The approach on the Pigeon Valley side of Wakefield bridge is com- i pletely carried away. At Motueka and Motupiko Valleys families had to be removed. Messrs Gibbs and Mead tried to proceed to the assistance of Mrs' Ellis, but were washed down stream. All escaped, however. Mr Fennemore tried to ride along the road to render assistance to the Wrights at Tadmore ferry, but failed. The family was afterwards seen to be all right. Mr W. Thomson's family left the accommodation house at Motupiko when the water was level with the table top. At Fojthill J. Stanton's family took refuge upstairs, but Morrison's had to be removed. Mr Hollis lost twelve hundred hills of hops, Mr Nicolls 300, and Messrs B. Lines an=d G. Holland many more, the laud being washed away. Mr C. Best lost seven acres of grass that he was about to cut, and throughout Appleby and Waimea West the crops are levelled. Stock were drowned at Motueka, and the country submerged, and it was feared that the ' river would make a new course through the township. Sheep and horses have : been drowned. Blenheim, January 3. The. highest flood for some years inundated the business portion of the tow n laßt night, and the country towards the sea for miles is under water. It is feared that great damage will have been done to the crops. The rain since Tuesday has been phenomenal.