FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4033, 9 February 1892, Page 3

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Lives Lost at tlio Taiori. Sho T7oathor and the Sarvost. (PREBS ASSOCIATION,) Oamaru, Febrnary 3. A great gale began yesterday, and still continues, TLe Kurow bridge over the Waitaki was washed away, and the bridge orer the Murawhenua ■wig also washed away at Duntroon. The railway line at Ngapara and Waihao was damaged, and the train j

Service disorganised. The Kakanui River is in high flood, and il is rumoured that several people * are cut off by the flood at Kakanui and their lives are in danger, A special train has loft with a boat resoue. Much damage has been done to the crops by the gale now raging. Later, The floods in this district have been the sereresb experienced here since 1868. Over three-fouiths of the grain m tho district has been lost, the greater portion boiDg in stook, although the farmers generally have takjn every opportunity of stacking. Thmiin has laid a good many of the BtHcwbg crops, which will have to be cut into back delivery machines, If the ram, which has partly ceased, is followed by a strong cold wind, the crops will not suffer great damage, but if followed by hot weather, the result will bn much damage. The railway bridge atDnntroon has been paitly washed away, and the bridge across the Waitaki at Kurow is also damaged, and traffic on this line is suspended. The railway bridges at Malieno aud at Waianakarua are also damaged, but repairs are expected to be completed by the morning, and traffic will be resumed, The Kakanui Valley was one vast "* sheet of water this morning, and sbeaveß, cattle, horses and sheep were being carried to the sea. The river waß a mass of floating sheaves, and the farmers in the valley must have suffered severely. A boat had to be sent out from Qamaru this morning to rescue the inrfk of two houses, and the slauper'men in Mr A, Thomson's slaughtering works, The rescue of thenioa by the boat failed, but the river commenced to recedo rapidly, and they were able to reach safoty in the afternoon, The riverS are all falling rapidly, and the worst part of the storm is now over,

CunisTCHURCff, February 8. The rain ceased this morning and !b now fine. There have been floods north of the Hurunui. One of Derret'a coaches was upset in attempting to cross the stream a quarter of a mile from (Julverden, The driver and orses had a narrow escape. The Hanmer Plains coacbdriver came through the Culyordon on horseback, being unable to get the coaoh over the rivers. He had a narrow escape, and lost three mail bags. Ditnedin, February 8. The damage by the floods of. the Taieri.is very great. . Twg- lives were lost,, Mr Walter *' SwanW groom, and an Outram man, known* as old Harry, ut sorvant at Kirkland. Sheaves are floating about in all diveotiqn'B, and many have been swept.aut to AtShands,2oo sheep were drowned, and numbers of sheep, and cattle else* where. The Governor returned to town to-night, and tried to proceed by the Hinemoa, but the weather was too rough, ... Tho train from Invercargill is stuck up at Milton with Lady Jersey on board, Great damage is expected to the railways. The Taieri-Outram ; bridge is expected to go during the ./V Bight. ' Near Oatnaru the Otaopo bridge . is ia danger,