THE STORM LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2528, 12 February 1877, Page 2

THE STORM LAST NIGHT AND THIS MORNING.

Further Particulars and More

Damage Dons.

-Yesterday at various times the weather promised to clear up, although there were some heavy showers during the day, with occasional thunder claps. In the evening, just as people were returning from their respective places of public worship, and after a comparatively long spell of freedom from rain, the sky was again overcast, and a slight shower fell. This was soon followed by another, and by ten o'clock there had been another heavy storm, which was again succeeded by others of increasing violence and intensity, until at midnight the weather was nearly

as bad as on the previous night. In the small hours of the morning the rain fell with still greater force, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and heavy peals of thunder, the rain literally pouring down, and although the storms were not of such duration as on Saturday night, the rainfall for the time being was even greater. This continued until after daylight this morning, the consequences being of a serious character, especially in the Borough. Many places in Shortland were flooded. A very extensive volume of 'water was tearing down Bichajbnd street,; which the large open drain and culvert were too small to crrry off. There was a large over flow,, and a consequent^ flood over the - portions of the ground adjacent to Richmond street and low lying. The worst' damage we have heard of in the Borough is at the Karaka bridge, P6l]ten street. This bridge suffered considerably by the flood which visited the district a few months ago, but it was patched up, and thought by some to be as good as ever, though others—amongst them the Foreman of Works—thought otherwise, and looked upon the temporary repairi then'effected as so much money, thrown, away. The latter theory has proved to be correct, and the bridge now is a wreck, it - having collapsed, we should say beyond the hope ttf any more patchwork. It would sewi that a large quantity of debris whs floated down the creek, which, becoming stopped, formed a dam, and the w\ter thus backed up overflowed the banks, spreading over the. flat around St. James' Presbyterian Church, and invading the premises of the residents on the east side of Pollen street, and the houses and gardens of several residents in Mackay street whose premises back those on the east side of Pollen street. Coming down Pahau street, the water reached' the Junction Hotel, and the houses and shops therefrom right down to Cochrane street, the street as well being under, water all but the crown of the road, and the sides being littered with drift wood and other debria. Some other smaller bridges over the Karaka have been much damaged, and the traffic rendered unsafe. A lot of flaming ha« been carried away from some of the batteries, and the Domestic Water Supply's fluming has also suffered. The damage to the Thames Water Race is trifling. The water was turned off at the head works on Saturday night, and the only injury resulting from the late rain is a few landslips, which can be easily cleared away. It is impossible to give even an approximate idea of the amount of damage done by the stoim and the flood which followed, as each hour of the day brings in some news of a casualty at one point or other on the field! The Hokianga Battery has sustained considerable damage by a lardslip of great extent having taken place. The domestic water supply main has been broken by i the force of the drift wood at the Karaka 1 bridge, and. the Grahams town supply has thus been cut off. The cottages near the Waiotalii Creek , at the back of Golden Crown street have felt the effects oJ the Waiotahi Creek's overflow, and many residents in the low.lying portions of the flat have been very much inconvenienced, even where not experiencing actual d image. The Thames School was unapproachable this morning except by boat, so that teachers and pupils have had an enforced holiday. It is to be hoped that the catalogue-of disasters here recorded will form the majority'of the whole incidental to the recent flood; especially is it to be hoped that there will not have to be chronicled any further loss of life. At the time we write there, are indications of an agreeable change and a clearing up of the weather.)