THE FLOODS.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4733, 8 March 1884, Page 2

THE FLOODS.

The, heavy downpour of rain which commenced the night before last continued with only slight intermissions j until noon to»day, when a break in the weather took place. The greatest sufferers from the flood were the occupants of shops and houses in Pollen 3treet, between Mary and Cochrane streets, and I more particularly was their trouble intensified from ten o'clock this morning until the waters subsided. On the east side of Pollen street, from a few doora north of Mary street to Cochrane street every shop was inundated. In the shop of Mr Cocks the water was at one time at least ten inches deep, while in that of Mr Clark, grocer, Karaka Bridge, it exceeded a foot. As far north as the shop of Mr Reid, grocer, there was a foot of water on the floor, and all intermediate premises were more or less invaded by the flood. About ten inches of water rose on the floor of the Presbyterian Church, and a constant stream over a foot in depth was pouring across the enclosure surrounding fhe Church. The low lying land on the western side of Pollen street, from Mary to Albert streets, was all wore or top;

under water, and considerable danger seemed imminent by a numerous band of youngsters of both sexes who seemed to revel in the waste of waters, tempting their lives by "rafting" and indulging in other dangerous sports. The rush of the stream in many of the was quite sufficient to overcome many of the children whb were wading about. The flood in the shops—wo learn—was about two inches less than occurred yesterday. AT PAEAWAI, owing to the fresh in the Kauaeranga, river, there was quite 3ffc.of water on the main road near the Bridge Inn, and the Parawai Gardens were inundated. The small creek flowing down close to the Parawai School, as usual, overflowed its banks, the culvert not being nearly large enough to carry it off, and it consequently flooded the footpaths and several private gardens around, covering them with mud and slime. TAKAEU. Here the flood this morning was much heavier than yesterday. The Shotover creek channel being already blocked up, the torrent of water rushed down the road, covering it and the footpaths with a fresh layer of mullock, sand, &c. A large stream also flowed into the Kuranui Hill battery, making everything in a terrible mess, though Mr Crawford happily managed to guard against the mill being damaged. Further along the road several small creeks have flowed right across it, and one .coming down near Mr Climo's residence flooded the footpath, and invaded the gardens of both Messrs Climo and Fraser, with unpleasant results in the way of mud. The fresh in the Tararu creek yesterday tore away two bridges, but this morning it was much heavier, and hardly a bridge, exceptthose at the mouth, now remain safely standing. Those remaining are hardly safe for traffic, as the river legs of the spans have been washed away, and very little strain would carry away their superstructures.' Further down the coast the streams were much swollen, but no serious damage appears to have been done.

ON THE OHINEMUEI EOAD a large gap has been cut by the flood in the road at the Puriri Springs, and it is more than probable that the coach will not be able to come through to-day. The repairs will take some little time to effect, but the County authorities are setting to work at once. Between Puriri and the Kauaeranga Bridge no extensive damage has been done, and the repairs necessary can easily be effected. The Kaueranga Bridge has withstood the strain on it wonderfully well; the huge kauri logs coming down stream hare not done it any material injury, although the concussion in many instances was very severe. Upon some of the larger logs striking it those in buildings some fifty yards away felt the shock and rushed out, thinking that an earthquake had taken place.

ON THE KAFAERANGA EOAD no damage to any great extent has been done. The road recently made near Murdoch's was covered with water, but when it went down the work appeared to remain uninjured. A very large number of logs is stored at the booms, and if proper precautions for their retention are taken no danger need be anticipated from the accumulation.

THE OTUNUI EOAD has suffered most. severely, several slips having occurred on the work now being carried on under contract by Mr A. Butler. From what we learn it will take between £80 and £100 to repair the damage done, and this, with contingent work, will prove a source of serious loss to the contractor. In the region of the

KAEA£A the most serious damage done has been caused by the discharge of mullock and other refuse into the stream, and this will really be found to be one of the principal sources of the present overflow of the creek. The approaches to the County bridge at Burns' have been washed away, and the bridge has been tied up to a tree. . There is no news of any disaster from the Upper Country, and there is every reason to believe that this visitation is a local one.