THE FLOOD.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4027, 24 November 1881, Page 2

THE FLOOD.

It was a strange coincidence that'the prophecy of an anti-Speight man, which was posted on the Corner the other evening, was verified in a most uncomfortable manner last evening. At abdut 6 o'clock people remarked to one another that a storm was gathering, and the saying was scarpely emitted, when the storm burst with great fury upon the township. The rain came down in one continuous stream, flooding the creeks, and overflowing the watertables to an' alarming extent. The people residing ■ in the low lying part of the town anticipated an., inundation, and in order to prevent their goods and chattels being damaged, removed them to a second story. Arrivals from Shortland were nearly all in the same state—like so many ;j drowned rats. They informed the ? Grahamstownites that the Karufca Creek was overflowed and that 'he Presbyterian Church was flooded. Pollen street, from the corner of Cochrane street to Hurton's Corner.was under water, and the streams from the different creeks meanderM at will tlirough many domiciles. At about "~ 8 o'clock tue whole of Albert street was flooded, and the jovial proprietor of the (queen's Hotel lound that the water was making headway in his cellar** Our reporter made a vain attempt to reach the Theatre by way of the Bank Corner, but did not succeed until he had been compelled to make a ctetour by way of Upper Queen street and Abraham street. Arrived at the scene of action, he found several friends and adherents of Mr Speight, who were all fully satisfied with the amount of water overhead and on the streets. After waiting for a considerable time the stentorian voice and the

deep-toned bell of Mr Gerrish were heard proclaiming the postponement of Mr Speight's meeting until Friday next, on account of the terrible severity of the storm. The people then made " tracks " home, and many and deep were the anathemas indulged in by those unfortunates who in order to reach their houses had to plunge through the cold bath. At about nine o'clock things improved considerably, and the few remaining 1 observers in Albert street saw with pleasure that the tide was turning. This enabled most of the surplus water to be carried oat to sea, but even at nine o'clock this morning it was impossible to get round the Bank Corner dry-footed, owing to the high. tide backing up the water which had not run off, during the night. The list of houses at present affected by the flood is :—Messrs Gudgeon's, Keid's, ■ Ashby's, and Burton's, which sustained the greatest damage, besides others of minor importance.