INANGAHUA.
[PBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] It commenced to rain on the morning of the 4th instant, and continued to pour down as though heaven and earth had determined to show how much rain could be drawn or driven from the clouds in a short space of time. It continued raining without intermission from Saturday until the following Monday night, which caused one of the heaviest floods in the Inangahua and Buller rivers that has occurred during the last twelve months. The Buller rose 30 feet in 12 hours after the rain commenced, at its junction with the Inangahua, backing t.he water of the latter upon Mr MindermaDn's grass paddocks, and cutting off all communication with Lyell and Reefton. Considerable damage has been done to the miners working on the Buller banks, by having thetr sluice-boxes and canoes swept I away. Warden Broad and Bailiff Tcmperley arrived at Christy's on Saturday night, en route for Lyell, to hold the usual monthly sitting of the B.M.'s Court, but were deterred two days owing to the flooded state of the river. The Reefton mailman was also detained owing to the same cause. Two bridges near Courtney's Post Office were lifted off their bearers, and were floating about during the flood, and when the water subsided they settled down ends up, making the road impassable until temporary repairs had been effected. Some damage has also been done to the new road, several slips having occurred on the side-cutting. The contractor had just finished a large culvert near the White Cliffs, which was lifted bodily up ; this the men say was owing to the bearers not being trunnelled with wooden bolts. The road level near the Cliffs is liable to be covered in ordinary floods, and the road Inspector ought to see the bridging done strictly according to specification by having the timbers secured with bolts. If this is not done they are liable to be lifted off the bearers and swept away at flood time, thus stopping all traffic between the sea-board and up-country districts. Last week the Westport and Christy's mailman had a narrow escape while crossing one of the numerous rotten bridges between Hawke's Crag and the Ohika Hill. His horse's legs went through the planking, pitching the rider out of the saddle, and the horse and rider narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on the rocks below. The whole of the bridges on the Buller road are so rotten that is really dangerous to ride over them. Some temporary repairs have been done to some of them, but it seems like throwing money away, as they want renewing. The Road Board will find employment for very mauy pounds sterling in making these bridges perfect. The mails from Reefton and the Lyell were detained on the road owing to damage done by the flood. Reefton, with its usual noble generosity, has collected £2OO for the widow and family of Charles A.nderson, who was lately killed in the Anderson's claim ; and an entertainment, under the patronage and co-operation of Mr Warden Broad, is to bo got up for the same charitable purpose. The Local Road Board of tho Inangahua district expect, from all sources, to have at their disposal revenue to the amount of £2OOO. Some of the men on No. 1 section got paid last week for road work, and went in for a spree in thorough orthodox style, treating the surrounding inhabitants to scenes of a far more annoying description than a Maori war dance, varying their amusement from throwing gin bottles at people to throwing boulders on their houses, the female inhabitants, and breaking up their crockery ware. It was sport to the men, no doubt, but some thero were who could not sec where the fun came in.
Another correspondent writes: — Tbo recent heavy rain which prevailed on Sunday and Monday last, caused a great deal of destruction on the new Bullcr road, which is now being niade between Christies and Old Hughie's, Many parts of the road are rendered impassable owing to the numerous heavy landslips which now obstruct it. There are at present eighty or ninety men at work, and nearly all working on sub-contracts. The prices at which the work is taken are low, and after paying for provisions and necessaries, the men will not make large wages.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WEST18740410.2.12
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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1166, 10 April 1874, Page 2
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722INANGAHUA. Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1166, 10 April 1874, Page 2
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