LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 168, 13 February 1868, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

FROM THE HOKITIKA EVENING STAB OF THE IITH INST. Christchurch, 2.30 p.m. The inqnest on the late fire, which has created intense interest, occupied quite seven hours. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against Swale. The losses by flood is estimated on the whole province at two hundred thousand pounds. The losses in Otago are supposed to be much greater. The whole of the Taieri plains are submerged, and many lives have been lost.

ARRIVED. Matoaka, from London. (From the Evening Post.') Blenheim, 1.15 p.m. At 4 o'clock p.m. on Sunday, we were visited with heavy rain and wind from the S.E., which continued throughout the day with but very little intermisssion, causing Taylor river to rise suddenly. On Monday forenoon the river rose higher till midnight submerging Blenheim to a depth of from 18 to 24 inches deeper than any flood which has occurred here before. The loss is immense. The chief part of the harvest is over. The new Scotch Church, which was half erected, is Rwept away. In Ewart's Hotel there are sixteen inches of water, and in the Government Buildings twelve inches. Volunteer parties in boats rescued many persons from perilous positions, and conveyed them to hotels. No lives fortunately have been lost.

On Monday night the waters commenced slowly to subside, and at midnight of Tuesday had fallen three feet, when the Opawa, being up, the flood again rose, and had attained eighteen inches at eleven a.m. to-day, when it commenced slowly to subside, and is still going down. At present no estimate can he formed of the amount of damage done.