WATER SPOUT BURSTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10511, 27 December 1911, Page 5

WATER SPOUT BURSTS

ALARMING TIME AT DUNEDIN, (By Teleurapk — Press Association. DUNEDIN, December 24. Residents on the fiat in Woodhiaugh. and North-East Valley bad ia most alarming experience yesterday afternoon. At first it was surmised tihait line reservoir luad burst, but it is now considered tfliait tlie flood was due to the bursting of a water spout on tihe. ■hill betwee/. the Leigh. Valley and Mount Clargill. At 2 p.m. the Leigh was running about tihe same as usual, but an hour later was running down the streets to a deptlh of tihree or four foot like a mill race. ■ The rudh. of the water was so sudden iliat residents had no tame to prepare, and tney had to make a hurried exit from tlheir homes. In some cases women had to be rescued in traps. So far as is known at present three horses were drowned. A mail •cart was wasihed away and badly smashed, but was rescued. Tons of new potatoes, cabbages, and trees Avere -washed away, and in tihe lower parts of .the Botanical Gardens •tihe flowers are buried in mud. A visit to the scene to-day revealed u. deplorable state of affaire. In many •houses the water has been up to a level higher tflian tlie beds, and tihe deposits of mud must mean heavy

losses as the result of damage to earpets, curtains, blankets, etc. For some 'hours citizens in the localities conceiTied bad «. very anxious time, and it was not til seven, or eight p.m. that the waters receded sufficiently to warrant the belief that the danger was past. Several people are not yet aware of the loss they have suffered as they are away for the holidays.