THE FLOODS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1167, 14 April 1874, Page 4

THE FLOODS.

A slip is said to have occurred on the Greenstone road of more than a quarter of a mile in extent. It is estimated by competent judges that to repair damages done to the Brunner Railway by the flood will necessitate the outlay of a sum equal to one third of the original cost of the line, viz. seven or eight thousand pounds. At Greymouth on Sunday, every street in the town was submerged, and by noon on Monday the water had attained the level of the great flood of 1872. The protective works, proved worthy of their name ; the current of the river was kept in its accustomed channel, and the inhabitants of Mawhera-quay had the satisfaction of seeing immense trees rush harmlessly by above the level of their doorways. The whole of Coal Creek Flat was submerged, the water being half way up to the wall plates of houses. The damage done to the road and railway line is considerable, and the telegraph lines are down in all directions. The most serious disaster to be recorded is the destruction of four houses at the lower part of Gresson street by the river encroachment. Some of the houses in the lower portion of the town were submerged for twenty-four hours.

At Hokitika, Gibson's Quay, Tancred, Hamilton, Sewell, Fitzherbert, Hampden and Jother low-lying streets were submerged. In some instances no less than three feet of water were in some houses, alike to the terror and inconvenience of their occupiers. Flotsam and jetsam of all kinds were floating or landed in unaccustomed places. The whole of the area embracing the above streets, seemed one vast lake, and timber of all kinds, domestic utensils, such as billies, tubs, and other things were drifting about in all directions. Several minor buildings in the rear of premises were washed down and floated away in company with other waifs and strays. The fresh in the river was at one time level with the wharf, and a vast volume of water, bringing with it the usual up-country debris in the shape of logs, trees, &c:, poured down. One very good effect of this was to scour away a considerable portion of the elbow of the North Spit, which has been for so long a time a trouble to shipmasters. It has been washed away, but whether the channel has been thereby improved or not, we have yet to learn. Between Ahaura and the Twelve-mile several large landslips have taken place, completely blocking up the road. A bridge near Ahauravale and several culverts have been washed away.

The flood in No Town was considered the greatest that ha 3 yet been seen in that locality. The loss to the creek parties is very considerable. Some of the Celestials who have only recently bought into claims will be the greatest sufferers. Several small bridges and tramways were washed away. The water was in most of the houses in Brunner Parade. At Dick's Hotel, at the Stillwater, the lower floors of the house were submerged to a depth of Gft. The farms in the Grey Valley have been all more or less damaged, owing to the deposit of silt; and at the Landing, portions of the gardens of St.Mary'sSchool,Messrs Whitefoord's, Edward's, Greedwood's, Goodall's, and Lewi's, have been undermined and washed away. The homestead of Mr Whitten, of the Ferry Reserve, on the south side of the Teremakau, on the main road, has been entirely destroyed. The Grey River Argus says that the up-country mail, notwithstanding all the dangers and obstacles which were in the way of travelling, reached Ahaura with astonishing punctuality on Tuesday, shorly after mid-day. The performance of this feat by Mr Marchassseau and Mr John Gilmer, who accompanied him, is worthy of notice, because they had to cut their way literally, and to swim all the swollen streams. The arrival, later in the day, of Mr J. E. Hawley, of the Telegraph Department, who had, after a deal of actual hard work, personally succeeded in freeing the telegraph wire, connecting the breaks in it, and re-opening communication between Greymouth and Ahaura, was a good example of pluck and determination.