THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS. Serious Floods in Waikato.
The rain which has fallen heavily at intervals for the past few days has had a somewhat injurious effect in some parts of this district. Up to a late hour last night reports of damages to bridges and roads reached us in good number. Indeed, it is said that since 1875, when serious damages from the same cause were sustained, heavier rain than that which has fallen since Saturday last has not been experienced. The Waikato river lias not been known to rise so rapidly for many years, and the same may be said of the various creeks and water-courses in the district. At Cambridge, notwithstanding the lecenfc drainage improvements in the centre of the town, yesterday morning found a portion of Duke-street completely under water. Several of the back yards were also flooded, paitiuucularly that of Mr Hewitt, who, we are sorry to say, suffered considerably by the downfall. Mr Kipley was awakened in the middle of the night by a flow of water tlnougli his bedroom, which rose so quickly as to impress upon him the necessity of looking after his personal safety. He proceeded to knock up the other residents of the street, which he did in a very forcible manner, informing them of their immediate danger. Though the late additions and improvements to the drainage system of the town were provided expressly for emergency cases, the drainage is as yet very faulty. We learn that the pipes recently laid, at considerable expense, down the bauk of the loke, for the purpose of draining that portion of the tow n in the vicinity of S. Andrew's Church, have been partly washed away." Confide: able damage has been done to the approaches of the Tamahere bridge o\er the M.ingaone cieek, on the Hamil-ton-Cambridge road. Mr T. G-. Sandes, on driving over the road yesterday moming, discovered a small hole in one of the approaches, which, on being investigated, betrayed the existence of a large pit foimed by the rain. He at once proceeded to Hamilton for assistance, and with a few men, a couple of drays, and a load of timber, succeeded in effecting the necessary repairs before night. The damage ib estimated at about £10, , A considerable portion of tbo road between Hamilton and Whatawlkita is completely under water, and thero^t has consequently become impassable for traffic for the present. The bridges in the Piako district h-^?^ not, from all accounts, bencfitted by^fl recent heavy weather. A culvert on^^fl road near Tauwhare has been 4|lp|^| away, together with a constdwal^M portion of the earthwork. We' learned by wire from Te Aroha last evening that tne Wiitoa bridge approaches have been washed away, and that the bridge is consequently unsafe for wheeled traffic. The engineer (Mr T. G. Sandos) goes out immediately this morning to effect the necessary repairs. The Te Aroha coach did not leave Te Aroha yesterday morning, on account of the sudden rise in the Waihou river.
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Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1712, 26 June 1883, Page 2
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500THE RECENT HEAVY RAINS. Serious Floods in Waikato. Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1712, 26 June 1883, Page 2
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