TELEGRAMS.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3508, 23 March 1880, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Pbess Association.)

NAMEB.

\ Monday. Severe Floods ia Eawke's Bay.

, Heavy rain is still pouring down, and floods'- of unprecedented severity are reported from all parts of the province.

The Tukituki broke over afc the boundary between the properties, of Mr F. Nelson and Mr J. Chambers, near Matawai, and spread over tbewholo country to Clive. All the properties lying between aye scforal feet deep in water, and we hear of a considerable number of sheep having perished, though, owing to the difficulty of communication over the flooded area, the number cannot bo given even approximately.

There were four to five feet of water in the township. Boats plied about (he streets, taking people from submerged houses to the police station and Mr Charles Mitchell's houses. Mr Mitchell kindly sent over to his boiling down establishment for legs of mutton, and supplied the different families : but last night the other provisions were running short, and a boat went to Mr Lascelles' house and offered to take his family, but he preferred to stay in the house.

For miles around on that side of the river the water is level with the tops of the fences. On this side there is considerable water lying on the surface, but very little in comparison. Strange to say the Ngaruroro is not flooded, and this allowed the flood-water to escape near the boundary of Mr Craw ley's property, where it cut deep channels, and passed into the river like a huge water-fall.

The ballast on the railway line is washed away in many places by the heavy rain on Saturday, so that the afternoon and evening trains did not go beyond Hastings. Mr Miller,, traffic manager, went up the line as far as the Kaikoura Bridge with the engine at 11 o'clock, but the line was washed away behind him, and'the engine could not get back. Besides the ballast, several culverts and small bridges on Mr Douglas's property have been swept away.

On Monday a private telegram was received in town, which states that there was an unprecedented flood at Waipuknrau. It was stated yesterday tbat a man had been drowned at Waipukurau, but this requires authentication.

The overland coach arrived at Kopua on Saturday, it being impossible to cross the several portions of road. The Manawatu rose to a very great height in a very few hours. It will probably be two or three days before the coach will be able to get to Kopua.