THE FLOODS IN HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 374, 12 October 1868, Page 2

THE FLOODS IN HOKITIKA.

Through the courtesy of the owners of the "Waipara, we are placed in possession of a copy of the Grey Hiver Argus of Saturday, which contains the following telegram. " Hokitika, Eriday morning. The largest and most destructive flood ever known in Hokitika occurred this morning. The river broke into the town at four o'clock this morning. The houses in Tancred street were six feet under water.

The river is rapidly cutting the bank away at the rear of Eevel-atreet.

An immense number of men were put on at daylight to cut through the South Spit, and hopes are entertained that the attempt will be successful. The weather is still bad, and much auxioty is felt as to the consequences of the afternoon's tide."

A passenger by the Waipara, who left Hokitika on Friday, informs us t'aat at one time the water was four feet above the wharf, and that boats navigated the streets up to mid-day. The inhabitants were roused out of sleep by the water rushing into their houses, and more than one citizen was seen wading through the rising waters carrying his wife on his back, and perhaps a child or two under eachjarm. Mr Frew took advantage of the great fall of water to materially assist the late operations of the Channel Committee. By the timely use of a little labour the stream was encouraged to flow into the new channel, and according to the latest accounts, there is now a good open channel offering a fair passage to the large fleet of vessls so long at anchor in the roadstead. Notwithstanding the extraordinary height of the flood there appears to have been but a moderate fresh in the river, a fortunate circumstance no doubt, for had it been otherwise, the destruction to property must have been immense.