THE FLOOD.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 91, 5 November 1877, Page 2

THE FLOOD.

Tlio heavy nnd continuous rain of the past fortnight or threo weeks culminated at noon on Saturday last in one of the heaviest downpours of rain witnessed in tho.lnangahua for many years. The rain continued for fourteen hours without a moments cessation. By evening all the low lying parts of the town were sub* merged, and tho drains were filled to overflowing. At midnight people began to feel anxious ps to the movemonts of the Inanguhua river, and numbers of pev sons proceeded to recoonoitro on the rirer bank. Keports soon spread that the river was already within a few inchos of tho top of the protective works, and still rising rapidly. Those business poople whose premises stood in even remote jeopardy started at once to prepare for the worst by removing all perishable goods from tho reach of the waters. At 1 p.m, the flood was running level with the top of the protective works, and the water, thug banked up some ten or twelvo feet, poured an immense quantity through the interstices of the embankment, and soon invaded the lower portion of the town. At & p.m. four feet of water swept across Broadway down the old flood channel, and inundated a largo portion of the locality. This state of afiairs continued until 4 a y^eak, and as a number of perspns rpmained up all night they then found $hat the worst of the danger was pant, as. the Qood shortly after commenced; to subside. Only at one spot, and there to th,o depth of an inch only, did the. water overrun the protective works, but the scene which the river presented at this time was something to be remembered. The water rolled down ift JjDQffieE^.e ■vyayes of cstsaprdinasy

' olocity. Gigantic trees and snags wore borne past by hundreds, and intermingled wore fragments of fencing, houses, and miscellaneous material. It could be soen that Koss Town stood upon an island, the river having made a branch towards tho terrace at tho Chinamen's garden, and a groat volume of water found its way in that direction. Several huge snags fouled the southern support of the suspension bridge, and the water boiled about its base in a way which seemed to threaten destruction, but happily no great damage was done. Two of the crates were swept from the lower portion of the protective works. About a chain and a half of tho Chinamen's garden was washed away together with growing crops. The ferry boat was also carried away. Scvoral chains of fencing recently erected hy Mr Oxley below the Chinamen's was also demolished, as also about two chains of his paddock. This i§ about tho sum total of tho damago done in Reeftbn by the flood. Several huge landslips occurred on the Blank's Point track carrying away a portion of the footway, and stopping traffic. The flood in the Left Hand Brauch was the highest experienced for fouryoars, and great damage has been done to Mr John Williams property by the encroachment of the river, and demolition of fencing. Tho most serious damago has, however, been done to the Grey-Reefton road. On tho Saddle an extensive slip has taken place carrying away a large portiou of the road and barring all traffic for some days to come. Botwecn the Saddle and Squaretown several chains of the road have disap* pearod entirely, and will require to be made good at once. The Little Grey at Squaretown attained an unprecedented height. The flood invaded McCarthys house as well as sweeping away every vestige of crop and doing other Berious damage, We hear that no damage has been done to the Just-in-Time machine. Tho flood was not within about 15 inches 1 of tho great flood of 1372, but had it risen another foot most serious damage to property, and probablp loss of life would have resulted. The protective works, however, stood the test bravely, and it is now seen that by increasing their height no danger need be apprehended from the river iv future. With tho exception of the Ahaura lino, telegraphic communication both north and south was interrupted yesterday, and wo are therefore unfortunately without inteN ligenco from either Westport to Greys mouth, but we feai* it is only too true that dreadful havoc has resulted at each place.