Floods in the South.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2377, 19 August 1886, Page 2

Floods in the South.

SERIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. LOSS, £IO.OOO. THREE FEET OF WATER IN THE DUNEDIN WAREHOUSES. United Press Association; ' Dunedin, August 18. Tho damage by the floods is heavier than was anticipated. The machine rooms of the newspaper offices are filled to a depth of three feet, the Times not being ablo to complete its issue till nearly noon, Ono house in Duncan Streot is completely wrecked by a fall of earth. The occupants, fortunately were sleeping iu upper rooms. A lartfo threo storey house belonging to Mr McFarlano is seriously threatened. There are several large landslips in the city, and at the uppor end of New Cargill Road a ditch, which has cost about £IO,OOO, has burst up. LAIBB. It is raining as hard as ever. Both the main streets in Caversham are extensively damaged. In Bond-street the water rose in Beveral warehouses to tho height of three feet. In Sargood's, Bond-street, about 450 caseß of drapory and genera] poods are damaged. It is the heaviest rain that has fallen for 23 years. Rain has fallen here almost without intermission since last Friday, causing heavy floods. The low-lying lands are covered with sheets of water, .and much damage has beon done to lately , sown grain, On sidings potatoes have been washed out, and'a large extent of country will have to be re-sown, Considerable mortality is reported amongst young lambs. There is no sign at present of the weather breaking. A heavy sea is rolling in, and several vessels aro unable to leave port, though within the breakwater, they are lying snugly.

• Latest. ' The latest newa regarding the state of Taieri is to the effect that the flood is still some feet below that 'of seven years ago, but the river is still rising. - The inhabitants of Outram are in some consternation lest the whole township should be swept away. The water is percolating through the embarkments -, made by the Board of Conservatives, and if there is another rush it may sweep houses' before it. Taieri farmers -generally have removed their stock to hit;h ground,Rumours were prevalent that the;SeacliffeAsylumwasin danger from slips, but sb far as iB known these are without foundation, In Palmerston and in. WaihoroCountyJtheloss of stock has ; been considerable. Messrs Muir Bros, have lost two hundred mostly valuable stud sheep, and,Mr Robertson, of Bushy Park, has lost i6oo'. An attempt will be made to open railway communication with the South to-morrow, if there is any (subsidence of water in the Tairei. No lobs of life is so. far recorded, although there has been a number of narrow escapes, Oamaru, August 18, Bailway communication with Dunedin is entirely suspended, owing to slips south of Palmerston. Communication on tho Ngapara and Kurow. brapch lines is still open, though the water is reported to be up to the. rails In several places. It is still raining hard. Christohbroh, this day.

It is still raining heavily on the coast. A serious landslip has ocourred at. Piojeon Bay, complotoly wrecking Mr, Hay's house, which afterwaads caught fire. No lives were lost, .all the family managing

to make their escape,. Every assistance •was rendered by the settlers. The . roads on the Peninsula are impasjable, . and great damage in-feared unieas.'the rain abates, ; •;