CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3001, 27 September 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Thursday.

The gale and hot winds throughout the province hare continued to-day, and the result has been more serious than was anticipated. Indeed, the rising of the principal rivers has not been so great lince 1870. To say nothing of houses, roofs, and chimneys that have been blown down in nearly every town ship in Canterbury, the railway has suffered a good deal, and traffic has been stopped* between Christchurch and the south, as well as on the northern line. Three spans of the JRangitata Bridge, 120 feet 'ong, have been washed away, so cutting off ail communication north and south of that place. The Kakaia has also greatly risen, and if the hot winds continue it is feared the -bridge will be impassable to-morrow*. The river is a mile and a half-wide, and the water nearly level with the top of the bridge. The Waimakairiri rose very high, and stopped the train from running this morning. The injury to the bridge is near the old place and protective works so far are ineffectual. After the rivers have subsided railway travelling will probably.be resumed in a day or two. but the Rangitata break must continue for some days, if not weeks, as more of. the bridge will probably go during the night. A passenger by the train from Timaru to Christchurch yesterday morning, leaving Timaru at a quarter past 7, describes the journey as an Immensely exciting one. In the vicinity of the township the air at t.mes seemed to be laden with awkward missiles, such as planks, sheets of galvanised iron, rails, .tins, etc. Stoppages to" clear the line were frequent. When neariog the Ashburton station one of these stoppages occurred, and -at that time the scene was wild ;n the extreme, matchling and heavier planks were beiajj hurled with terrific force, at)d suddenly a crash was heard which made the occupants of one of the carriages drop on to the floor as if some of the planks were about to behead them. A heavy plank had, in fact, struck the carriage crashing through some of the panels under the windows. A few minutes later the verandah of Messrs Montgomery's hew building was being swayed up and down, and the glr.ss flying

from it in shon jrs almost like snow on to several buildings. The iron roofing was blown about as if it were paper. At a meeting of the Board of Governors (sic) to-day a resolution to have three terms in the year instead of two was referred to a select committee.