THE FRESH.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 378, 16 October 1868, Page 2

THE FRESH.

Perhaps it would be well to make use of the past tense, and call it the late fresh, in eontra distinction to another which is very likely to happen by the time this is published, if the present downfall of rain continues. We can only hope that such will not be the case, for the effects of the fresh just passed has been sufficiently disastrous. In yesterday's issue, we mentioned the destruction of the various wharves, and so called protective works, and the rapid encroachment which the river was making upon Wharf street. Since then matters have remained pretty much the same. Powell's wharf, or rather what remains of it, is still standing, though separated by a wide gulph from the main land. Stanley wharf suffered little injury, and appears quite strong enough to be able to resist another attack. The points which have suffered most are, first, the bank between the upper and lower wharf, and second, the made ground at the corner of Morey's National Hotel. A very large slice has been taken out of the former, and little more than the width of the metalled roadway is all that is now left of what was formerly a broad Esplanade. The state of things at Morey's corner is still more critical. This point is exposed to the wash of the swell which ordinarily enters the river in rough weather, and which in this case proved more destructive in carrying away the ground than the action of the current. Only some six feet remained in front of the hotel yesterday afternoon, when Mr Morey set to work, and by close-boarding the faee of the piles which still stood up in line along the bank, effectually, for the time being at least, prevented any further damage from that cause. The Ceres continued yesterday in her old berth river bank, and is in a position of comparative safety; beyond being a little strained she appears to be uninjured. From the South Spit we learn that a considerable portion of the river bank has been washed away, this nowever is not of much consequence. Constable Doris, who is stationed in that quarter reports that a number of hogsheads and quarter casks, some containing beer and others being empty were washed up on the sea beach, and were in course of being quietly appropriated by the natives, when he interfered. This beer, it appears, is the property of Mr Leslie, and is part of a large stock which the fresh very summarily cleared out of the cellars of his brewery.