The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1884. YESTERDAY'S FLOOD

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1778, 3 September 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1884. YESTERDAY'S FLOOD

Last evening the northern end of Masterton was subjected to a flood which was unprecedented in extent and character. The only one with which it can be contrasted was the March Flood in 1880. On that occasion there was a week's continuous rain. . On Saturday and Sunday, March 20 and 21, of that year, Greytown was under water, and on Sunday a breach was made by the swollen flood in the bank of the Waipoua near the railway station, and a slice of Masterton was for three days turned into a river bed. Yesterday's flood, however, rose and subsided muoh more rapidly than ita predecessor, but while it. lasted it was more vigorous and destructive, . The Cause of the Flood On this occasion was not the breaking through ot' the river bank, but p obstaole in the path of the stream designed and, constructed by the celebrated Government engineers; who are slowly but surely acquiring a reputation in this neighborhood for a professional sagacity which is so profound that it obscures their common sense. Recently on tbe river line a few chains beyond the Masterton Railway Station a bridge has been built and banked in till it formed a sort of wall in the path of the flood. The consequence was the river overflowed its banks and began to travel into Masterton.

The First Warning was given about 2 p.m., and our reporter went towards the station to see what was the matter. Turning round Mr Gapper's comer into Albert street a lazy current' of water was observed travelling :down the road at the rate of about a mile an hour. It looked inno : cent enough, but everybody knew that it was the pioneer of a" host of waters. Shortly after three o'clock the stream reached Queen-st,, and very soon covered the groiiud between Dixon's corner and the Waipoua flooding shops, and houses right and left. • ' Small Boys were in their glory, wading up to their waists in all directions and enjoying the " order of the bath" which was conferred upon them. Others of a maturer age did not take so much pleasure in ■ Tp Scene. ■■■> Between moving , furniture, protecting children, and saving pet animals and poultry, most people were kept fully employed. Traps and vehicles were brought out, and till Bome hours after dark were employed in conveying families from exposed to secure positions, There was not much Danger, excepting at one point where a street of cottages runs down to the Waipoua. <

There the river out in, separating"-,two cottages from;the row, and.coursing all round them in torrents. This spot was where, there-was real danger. His Worsliip tlie Mayor, Or Perry,'and many other settlers made every effort to relieve the manifest anxiety of the inmates of these habitations, but' without success. The force of the water was such that the strongest horse could not breast it, All sorts of experiments were .tried, but without avail. As a last chance a punt was constructed, but even this proved unmanageable in the torrent. It was thought that these two cottages might be undermined by the water and washed away, but fortunately they had been faithfully built and withstood the flood. They were occupied by two families named Harcome and Barkwith, and, no doubt, when they are able to communicate with the outer world again, they will be able to give their experiences of a night of terror. At the time we write, these two cottages appear to be in the centre of the river. The Waipoua has evidently cut a new channel at this point, On the line of the Waipoua much damage was done to railway departmental works. The New Bridge,

which, as we have pointed out, was the cause of the disaster, is smashed up by the flood and a portion of the structure carried down stream. •' The County Bridge, which spans the main road, has been more fortunate, It is still in situ, but' the southern embankment, has given way and communication with the country districts north of Masterton is consequently suspended, Waingawa Railway Bridge. Two sets of piers are knocked out of position, one set being broken in two apparently from a blow, the force of which has also torn away the stringers on one side, and the cross ties are hangfng on by one end. This norning Messrs Dixon & Jaqties' coach left Masterton with a numher of railwayemployees, guards,- and passengers, and went as far as the Waingawa, \vhere they then had to leave "the coach and walk across what . was left of the railway bridge to the other side, where there was an engine and carriage waiting to convey them to their destination. Waingawa County Bridge. The Southern approach to the Waingawa Road Bridge is washed away for abont a chain, and a rapid, though narrow, body of water is rushing down there. On the northern side the main body of water is flowing, and spreads ever the ground to the rise where the blue gums are. There is not much water passing under any part of the bridge, it being almost choked with debris. Cole-Street.

There was very little water in this street at 5 o'clock last night, but . immediately after there was a rush, and in less than half an hour it had risen three feet. Several families left their houses and took shelter for the night with their more fortunate neighbors, who were then high and dry. A number of fowls were destroyed before there was a chance of rescuing them, After 1 o'clock the water appeared to be receding at the rate of one inch to the hour, and the feara of the;people receding at the same rate, they gradually settled down for the night. This morning a delicate carpet of mud might he seen instead of the carpet that was felt yesterday, " A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind." fat, kind and considerate as he always is, carted the " boy that pays the rent" from his outdoor quarters in the wet to more comfortable ones in the kitchen, and his polite attention was appreciated with a grunt ot satisfaction, Akura Road, At the Akura saw mills the floods were high, Logs were floating (Jop the main road, and all the people had to leave their houses, One family, whose wliare was on the Waipoua bank, was submerged five or six feet. All their clothing was saturated, and a conveyance ( had to be sent from Masterton to relieve theiu. The culvert that was on the road leading from the Akura road to the Waipoua is washed up, and is lyjng in a paddock some distance away. If this were replaced communication could be opened with Opaki. CfIAPEL-STREET, Mr Hoar's dwelling oi) the creek at the back of the Wesleyan Church was one of tho first to be flooded. The oulvert across the road at this point being much too small to carry off an ordinary fresh, was soon useless, and before the family could be released from the house the water was rushing out of the windows. Mjnor Incidents.

- The late flood must have prpyeij fatal to many dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, and possibly ferrets. The corpse of a cat.lay on the footpath in Queen street this morning ready for intermeut, We hear that many sheep are missing, and 110 doubt losses will be -sustained by fiocjfowners. It was rumored last evening that Arthur Harford, the mailman, had come to grief, but a telegram -received by the police this'morning reported him to be all right and en route with his bags. We observe that the platforms of the Masterton bathing sheds have disappeared, but small wreckage of this character is universal. This morning the borough stafl was diligently employed in opening up culverts and cutting drains to let the water' out of town as jpepdily as possible. The probable cost to the borough to repair the damage done by the flood is estimated by the Public Works Committee of'the Borough Council at about £3O. Waipoua River.

The Mayoj was very active with several others in attempting to succoiir the two families isplaled by the Waipoua overflow, a flat-bottomed boat was built and attempts were made to reach the Island, but to no purpose. Uprooted trees and limbs were washing swiftly past, and the strongest horse could have no chance m such a flood. Great relief was felt when, at daybreak, the houses were seen still standing, and the occupants safe. Tl)e river had cut a track right

I into Adams' bush, carried away several acres of bush land along the'northern "bouhdary of: the Waipoua iriyer, -and. then"shot civer to- BentleylsEstate infront and back of the two ,cottages referred to, inundated Messrs • ' ' Bacon k Go's Timber Yards several feet, washed away the raised part of the main-road in .'several places between the old . and new Waipoua bridges,and spread oyer ; the low lying ground of the Education Reserve until it joined the already much swollen Euamahanoa river, The flood continued spreading and at the Lower Manaia some forty sheep belonging to Mr A. Johnstone were drowned, Mr R, Cookburn who had been qut all day trying to get in his sheep, had not returned home at dusk, and fears were entertained for jhis safety. He however turned up aljout six o'clock, He had succeeded; in saving several sheep and lambs, but to-day he estimates to have lost between 400 and 500 sheep and lambs, Mr John Colway who \yfls out with a cart assisting to get in the lambs, states. the scene was heart-rending. The Ruamahanga at this part was overflowed for quite fifty chains, and miles of fencing were carried away. Some 1 tons of drift came tearing along, carrying all before it.

The Public Park has suffered to some extent. Several trees are uprooted, and about half a chain of the painted fencing is carried away. A large quantity of drift has lodged in the grounds. Culverts, posts, rails, sentry boxes, gates, and wire are strewed over the cricket ground, although the ground itself is not seriously injured. Dixon-Street. In this street the water is still in some of the houses. The mud that is accumulated is already becoming offensive, and needs prompt attention to : prevent sickness, Greytown. ' Our correspondent writes last evening : There was rather a heavy flood in the Waiohine to-day. We hear it'has done considerable damage to the railway embankment at Woodside, : Carterton. In the opinion of some of the oldest inhabitants of Carterton, writes our correspondent, such a storm as raged there yesterday is without parallel, and when full particulars come to hand great damage will have to be reported. j'The wind during the forenoon was fearful. The large front windows of Mr Feist's store on the Taratahi weie driven in, also a good deal of the glass of a new conservatory that Mr Price is just building in Dalefield, Of course all outdoor work was at a standstill. Towards night the water began to rise in the streets, and by eight o'clook the Belvidere road from the Observer office to the railway station was impassable for pedestrians unless they had a mind to wade through up to their knees in water, and all sorts of wild rumots were flying about concerning bridges that were reported to have been carried away. The water has washed the footpath away in front of tho Observer office and A. Mc'Kenzie's store. All the paddocks and gardens on the right hand side of the main road were one sheet of water. : One gentleman was heai'd this morning lamenting over the damage done to his flower garden, Soraetliingin the look of his countenance must have forcibly struck a lady who lyas passing by, for after fiist offering biro the use qf her perambulator with which to fetch h-'s wife oi(t in, she in a pleasant voice asked him how ])is tomatos were coming on, assuring him that these were plants that required plenty of water, The effect of the chaff by no means improved the good man's temper. One young lady, who's occupation called her away from home, managed to reach terra firma on a pair of stjlts. These are a few minor incidents, but we are afraid t||erp aye many others that will not admit of a smile. We understand that Mr Andrews, Woodside, has lost the bulk of his sheep, and that cattle have been drowned in that locality, Also that Mr Charles Fail-brother is a heavy loser with his sheep! We have as yet heard nothing from the land along the Ruamahanga, but fear things will go badly with farmers there,

A Terrible Fatality occurred at Woodville last night, wfoerpfcy twp women were drowned. The vain fell yesterday and all tyst night in torrents, and aa a result, the Manawatu river roße with great rapidity. H. McKenzie, contractor for the Manawatu raiiway and traffic bridge, four miles troin there, lived in a house"ton a raised piece of ground on the bank of the river. Shortly aftor midnight it was found the house was bejijg.gurroundet) by wqter, and a raft was made .for the 'purpose of getting the people away from the house, Shortly after three o'clock the first attempt was made the raft being occupied by Mrs McKenzie and her fori, Mrs Feasby, and her husband, and a man named McMillan. . When crossing however the raft struck a snag and' capsized, all tj|e occupants getting qn board again, but the steering pole was lost, and the raft swept again into the surging current of the main stream. Again the raft struck a snag and capsized. ' The three men somehow got ashore, and were picked up nearly insensible, but the two women were drowned and there seems but little hope of ever recovering the bodies. Mrs McKpnzieJjad been living in Dui}edin ( and only came to Woodville on Monday last. McKenzie has lost a great quantity of timber, and the Binking machinery has been submerged. Traffic has been stopped at the Gorge, and Masterton Ferry. The main road to Masterton is under water for nearly a mile, No loss of stock is yet reported.

This, morning Mr Stout was again sworn in as Premier, and Sir Julius ;Vogel was made Colonial Treasurer. Mr Ballanoe slipped back into the ■ Native office, Mr Tolk became Minister of Justice, Mi' Richardson Minister of Public Works, and Mr Reynolds supernumerary. . The Stout- Yogel Ministry .will be allowed no doubt this time to bring o policy fully before the house, and then it will possibly be beaten. As yet it does not represent a majority of members in the House, and till it does do so it will simply be at the mercy of .the Opposition. We : hope to see it got a fair trial, but fear that the unnatural union of a Conservative treasurer with a Radical premier will not bear good, fruit. |

Lady Wbitaker, wife of Sir F. Whitlker died laat night at Auckland. , We aie sorry to. hear that Mr Park, our local telegraphist is laid up with a diptberio attack,

The Oddfellows', meeting lapsed las' night from the prevailing cause, only the Secretary* P.O. 'Bro;"palrymple being present to receive contributions, ;THe spedial'raeetfng bf the to consider the report (of the Executive Oommittee of the Board of Health convened for 7 o'clock last night, did not take place in consequence of the floods. There was also to hare been a special meeting to consider the Gas question. This dlbo lapsed from the same cause. • Mrs Lloyd Jonea, who resides near the Waipoua in Masierton, has reported to the police that she saw a body, apparently of a human being, floating down the river at half past three yesterday afternoon, In consequence of this information the police are about to make a search for the remains oi poor Petersen below instead of above the town.

It appears that Jena Potor Peterson whose melancholy death by drowning we reported yesterday met liiß fate in a creek running near the Waipoua river, Mr John Macara rode through the creek before him and shouted out thai it was deep. A lad, Tom Winteringham, who was behind Petersen adviaed him not to take the oart through it, but the old man wonld not listen to him, and took the 'standing in mid-stream with his head cart in. In a moment- the current overturned both horse and cart, and Mr John Macara saw Petersen above water. Mr Macara called-out to him that he was coming to his assistance, and rode through the creek to help him, but before he got near him the current forced Petersen downstream and*he disappeared from sight. The horse struggled on to itß feet and pulled tho cart out of the water. As yet no trace of Petersen's body has been discovered. We hear that Mr Ooker is arranging for a trip through the Wairarapa townships with that versatile entertainer, F, \V. Millis.

A meeting ot the Masterton Cricket Olub will be held this evening at the office of Mesßrs Beard and Gray, Major Atkinson announced in the House yesterday afternoon that the Ministry had resigned on Saturday morning in consequence of the Adverse vote. He then, at the request of Mr Stout, moyed the adjournment of the House until 2 80 today. Mr Stout said lie had accepted the responsibility of forming a Ministry and hoped to form an administration by today. The Souse then adjourned. News was brought in this morning that a man named Harry Juhnson was scalped yesterday by a limb from a tree falling on him. He and his mate Tom Perry were working on a bridge contract at the Uppßr Taueni when the acoident happened, and the injured man was conveyed to Mr Hawkins' residence at Bowlands, where he received all the attention possible, and .his mate came on to Masterton and obtained medical assistance. Johnson, who is stated to be m a very critical state, is well known in Masterton. After several years experience m supplying watohes for the colonial market, Littlejohn and Son, of Lambton Quay, Wellington, have observed the need for a thoroughly sound English Lever Watch at a lower price than that usually paid for suoh watches. It is only bj the judicious division of labor and by the manufacture of largo quantities on a uniform plan, that we are enabled to mopt thia want. We have now the pleasure of introducing our Six Guinea Hunting Silver Lever. This watch, being simple in design durable, highly finished, and accurate,fulfils, all the requirements of a pocket timekeeper, A written guarantee for two years will be given with each w4oh. Sent by post, securely paoked, oil receipt of Post Office order or clipquo.—