Serious Flood at the Thames. Streets Destroyed and Bridges Carried Away. LOSS OF LIFE. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRES-] PONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1411, 19 July 1881, Page 3

Serious Flood at the Thames. Streets Destroyed and Bridges Carried Away. LOSS OF LIFE. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, OWN CORRES-] PONDENT.]

Thames, Saturday Evening. It haa been steadily raining here since Thursday, and last night culminated in a heavy downpour. The ircsh in the Kauwaeranga is higher than it has been for some years, and, in consequence, a considerable quantity of timber has been brought down to the Parawai booms. Culverts burst and flooded the streets. The lower part of the " corner building and several shops in the immediate vicinity were completely inundated.

Sunday Night. The rain is still falling steadily, and the creeks are full and overflowing. In fact it is the prevailing opinion of all that it is the largest flood that has occurred for many years. The scene is one of the utmost excitement, and the damage is roughly estimated at between £15,000 and £20,000. In consequence of the Presbyterian Church being surrounded with water and mud it was impossible to hold the usual Sunday services. Several of the hotels have suffered severely. A man, named Boyle, whilst attempting to cross the Kfape Creek, lost his footing, and before assistance arrived was carried away and drowned. This ia the only fatal accident which I have heard of as yet. The reservoir at Parawai is reported to have bur&t. The mines have escaped with little damage and yet all the bridges across the creeks have been more or less damaged. The streets are full of people and the wonder is that there is no more accidents. The streets present a deplotable condition. r J he Bank of New Zealand escaped in consequence of being built higher than the adjoining buildings. The principal damage around the Pacific corner, Grahair.stown, was caused by the heavy flood of backwater. The course of the Waiotahi Creek was completely blocked up, and the water, therefore, flowed down through Upper Pollenstreet, Abiaham-street, and Owen-street, into Brown and Albert streets, seriously damaging the roads. The floors of the Pacific Hotel, and Wharf Hotel, and also the premises of the Exchange Buildings, Clothing Factory, Advertiser office, Marshall s, and Osborne Bros, shops were deeply covered with water; besides which, most of the premises m Lower Albert and Brown 3treets were damaged more or less by the water. The whole of Brown-street, from the Lady Bowen Hotel nearly to the Grahamstown Wesleyan Church, and back to Quepn-street, is almost impassable, being covered with mud several feet thick. But the most serious damage is that done to the section of Pollen-stieet between Cochrane-street and the Karaka bridge, which was caused by the Karaka Creek being choked up from the bridge back to the Piako battery, and then overflowing its banks and finding its way to the Waio-Karaka Flat, where it formed into a large pond. Between 7 and 8 p.m. Sunday evening the rain fell very heavily, causing this water to form itself into a large stream. It then found its way into Pollen-street, where it completely destroyed the asphalt pavement. The damage done to the shops between Cochrane street and the Karaka Creek is very great, scarely one of them having escaped the flood. Considerable damage has also been done between the Collarbone and Karaka Creeks. Grahamstown, Last Night. The Grahamstown Borough Council met this morning to consider the most advisable ateps for repairing the damage done by yesterday's deluge. It was resolved to make application to the Government for a grant for this purpose. The damage sustained is estimated as follows : — Waiotahi creek, £3000; Moanataiari creek, £5000 ; Tararu creek, £200 ; Tararu road, £350; Karaka creek, £1500 ; Hape creek, £2000; bridges over reclamation works, culverts, etc., £1500; domestic water-race destroyed, £2000; total, £11,050. The following telegram was forwarded to the Acting Minister of Public Works (the Hon. John Hall) :—"Thames, July 17.— To Hon. John Hall, Wellington.—Great flood here last night. One life lost and others missing. Damage to public and pri\ ate pioperty enormous. Fuller particulars when extent damage ascertained. —W. Wilkinson, Mayor Borough Thames; A. Brodib, County Chairman." Meetings of the local bodies were held this morning to consider ways and means for making good the most pressing cases of damage without delay.