LAST NIGHT'S FLOOD.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4819, 19 June 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S FLOOD.

The wet weather we have had since Tuesday night last culminated in a steady downpour last evening, which caused all the creeka and the Kauaeranga river to become much swollen, and considerable damage was done, chiefly in the Borough, while the logs which came down the river when the booms broke made a hole in the p.s. Pa tiki, lying at Shortland Wharf. In the

BQEOUGH,

The chief damage appears to have been done at Tararu. The sea-wall near Rocky Point has ftuther given way in several places, and the road past there is now entirely, blocked. The Tararu Crok was much swollen, and the seaward stone wing on the Hastings side of the lowest bridge was. washed away ; this end of the bridge also sunk slightly, and the water getting behind it, washed a largo bole in the road, completely stopping carb traffic. A culvert near Messrs Wolff and, Thorburn's residences is choked, and the seaward end is covered with-debris; it will need extending about 30ft. to make ii again effective. The Sunbeam Crec: culvert is also choked up, and the footpath on either side is covered with slush. The Kuranui Hill Creek culvert is also choked, and debris lodged all over the road and footpath. Two members of the Works Committee visited these places this morning, and came to the conclusion that it would be by far the best plan to raise both culverts, rather than expend any more funds in cleaning them out. A number of low-lying allotments in Grahamstown were flooded, owing to the rain water not being able to get away . quickly enough, but no damage was done here. The Karaka Creek was at one time overflowing both at the Pollen street bridge and lower down, and some of the residents here had rather more water about their premises than was agreeable. The water was running through tue Presbyterian Church enclosure, on the north side, and from there spread along Pollen street, filling up some of the ditches with sand, while oa the south side similar damage was done, one or two low-lying shops also being flooded. A culvert in the Karaka road, opposite Mr Greenville's, broke, and the water dug a large hole. The Hapc Creek silted up about eight inches on an average. The contractor for clearing the Karaka Creek had nearly completed the work, but last night's fresh brought down about half as much debris as was in it before. The question as to whether be, will have to clean it out in strict accordance with the specifications of his contract will no doubt be considered at to-night's meeting of the Council.

KAUAERANGA EIVER.

; The fresh here brought down about ,200 logs to the booms. A report was circulated to the effect that the booms had 5 given way UDder the strain last evening, butj Mr Stone informs us this afternoon that such is not the case, though a chain at the south-eastern end did break, allowingso or more logs and a lot pf timber to come down the creek; This, fortuina'ely,. did no-damage to the two abridges, but the p.s. Patiki, '.which ; was lying at Shortland, wharf, opposite ;the receiving store,, was considerably damaged. • A large number of logs csme I down together at about 7 o'clock, and she [ received several severe blows. Her star- ; board side is dented all along, while a jcouple of feet,from the stem a large hole ;is burst in, filling the fore-«compartment iwith water; The wisdom of having her •built in watertight compartments was ■here shown, as the other portions of the 'vessel are quite dry. On the port side also, there are some large dents, and both :padd.le«wheels are considerably bent and twisted by the logs striking them. The vessel was repaired only a ;few days ago, and was in good order. Mr Gillespie, manager of the Thames Eiysr Company, intends to have her bauW up land surveyed, and the damage will, judgiing by the B.M.s decision in prevl us icases, have to be piid for by the Shorthand Sawmill Go. The s.s. Merosahib and :the two mill«boats were out to-day, and the gretter proportion of the escaped logs have been recovered. In the h '

• _../ .. county, •.; Vr;.,'.•,,, so far as we can learn, the damage" is not extensive. The road to Ohinemuri was flooded in several places, and slips have taken place on .other roads. A portion of the. stone wall protecting the Hape Cr^k road, opposite the Dart shaft, was washed away: A portion of Parawai, as is periodically the case with heavy.rain, was flooded through the blocking of a water course by the school; the Council should do something to remedy this, as it is a great inconvenience to the inhabitants in the neighborhood. ,