THE FLOOD.

West Coast Times, Issue 652, 26 October 1867, Page 2

THE FLOOD.

Hokitika, yesterday, was visited by a flood, which although not of a destructive character, yet was nevertheless productive of serious inconvenience to many of the inhabitants, by flooding their dwellings, and in some cases for a time • completely isolating them. On Thursday evening, it commenced to rain heavily, and at midnight the rain came down in torrents, and continued without intermission until long after daylight. The result of this continuous downpour was that the river rose rapidly, and at daybreak a tremendous fresh had set in. As the tide rose and the time for high water approached, the backwater from the river filled every creek in the vicinity of the town, and these overflowing, portions of tho streets in their vicinity were laid under water. In fact, before seven o'clock in tho morning, the water was some inches deep in the dwellings of many persons in Hamilton and^Tancred streets. The water also lay in sheets along Gibson's Quay, Sewell street, and the lower ends of Tancred street and Weld street. By eleven o'clock the flood began to subside, and at three o'clock access could be obtained to what had been "island homes." This was particularly the case in Tancred street and Hamilton street, where many of the houses were for hours surrounded by water, and ingress and egress completely cut off. except by wading up to the middle in the stream which was flowing around them. In Hamilton street the water was nearly half-way up the rails which have been placed to protect the willow trees lately planted in that street. The water also flowed into several of the houses, but did no material damage. Most of the dwellings on both sides of the road in Tancred street, from Hamilton street to Weld street, had at one time from three to four inches of water flowing through them. Tho lower part of the old Police Camp was covered with water at least two feet deep. The lower part of Weld street, from Pizzey's brewery to past the West Coast Times office was overflowed, and there was an unbroken sheet of water extending from Weld street up Tanered streetinto Stafford street. The Hau Hau tramway was also flooded in some parts, but' the water soon subsided from that locality. At one time a considerable part of Sewell street was covered. Some indescribable mishaps occurred to persons attempting to gain access to their houso3, and strange to say, most of these occurred in Tancred street. We know of one gentleman who was wading quietly along, when he suddenly found himself up to his neck in water, from which he emerged, blowing like a grampus. Another amusing accident, if accident it can be called, occured not far from the Tancrod street Hotel, and we mention it as illustrative of the fact that it is not well in all cases "to paddle your own canoe." A mechanic wishing to cross to his workshop, which was at the rear of the houses, embarked on board a large case (in which by the way, a youth had only a short time before been paddling about most skillfully), and assisted by a long pole he pushed off from the bank. All went on well, until he reached the deepest part (about 10 ft.) in the centre of the stream, when suddenly his frail support began to oscillate, and in attempting to steady himself he lost his footing, and plunged head over heels into the water. On rising to the surface he swam like a duck, aud quickly reached the other side, amidst the hearty laughter of the spectators. _ The rear of the premises on the West side of North Eevell street was in some cases flooded to the depth of one or two feet, occasioned by tho creeks in the cemetery overflowing — the water through, the high tide being prevented from runing into the sea. At a subsequent period of the day, several men were employed in cutting a drain in order to discharge the water which had collected in the hollows in that locality. From all we can learn, the rivers have been very high in the interior. About noon Cobb's coach started for Greymouth, but was unable to proceed further than the Saltwater Eiver, in consequence of the bridge being overflowed and a portion of the tramway washed away. It was not deemed prudent to start tho coach for Christchurch yesterday. Although it rained at intervals during the day, the continuous downpour ceased shortly after eight o'clock in the morning, and as evening set in, although the sky looked gloonty, the heavy fresh in the river had in a great degree gone down, the water had almost disappeared from thestreets, and the danger of another flood appeared to be passed. At the hour at which we write, however, tho rain is pouring down in torrents. We may mention that this flood has been the heaviest one of the season.