Floods at the Hutt

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7371, 19 November 1898, Page 3

Floods at the Hutt

THREE TRAINS STUCK UP. (BY TELEGRAPH) Wellington, November 19. The flood In the Hutt is six inches higher than In June, which was a very bad one, and the loss to the settlers will be very great. Potatoes and similar crops will suffer badly. No partionlars are yet to hand, but It Is feared that the loss of stock Is very heavy. Fences have been washed away in all directions. Later. Last night's rain was specially severe among the hflla at the head of the Hutt Valley, and railway traffic suffered in a most remarkable way. A mile beyond Kaltoke the train was blocked by a car getting off the line, and the northern express ran down to take the passengers off. She was blocked by a slip in front of tbe train, bat got the passengers, and, In trying to return, fonnd another large slip had come down In th 6 rear. Both trains were thus hemmed In, and the passengers had to stay on the cars all night, as the slips were impassable and dangerous. Bonlders came down the hillside and burst through the van, and struck Guard Payne on the leg, disabling him. An effort was made to send refreshments from Kaitoke, but whethersuccessful is problematical. Meantime a rescue train was despatched from the Upper Hutt, but this disappeared altogether. All that was heard of it was a short message after midnight saying that a culvert bad fallen in. So three trains were thus stuck up within a few miles. A gang of men left early for the scene, bur, owing to constant slips, it is expected that the work of clearing tbe line will take a considerable time. In addition to these misfortunes, a brief message has p been received stating that a late goods train from Masterton to Cross Creek has fallen through a bridge over a small stream near the latter place. No lives were lost. The line is now completely blocked, and it will be several days before through traffic can be resumed. Fortunately the fears as to the loss of stock in the Hutt Valley proved unfounded, and the loss is only small. The residents of Petone were aroused at 3 a.m. by the ringing of the firebells, and all preparations were made to meet a heavy flood. The water gradually crept up, and by 5.30 a.m. a strong current was running through some of the outlying streets of the township. The flood rose to within an inch of the top of the stop-bank, tbe highest mark yet reached, but it then began to gradually subside, and all danger is now past. The high tide at 8 a.m. banked up the flood water and flooded some of the low-lying portions of the town. The damage in the township is not very serious. It was found impossible to get any passengers towards Wellington. An attempt was made to convey them in traps, but the roads were washed out and blocked with fallen trees in all directions. A strong gang of men is at work on the obstructions and It Is expected that the line will be cleared by Monday. The men on the goods train must have had a narrow escape. The flood had undermined tbe bridge over the creek and in the darkness the engine plunged into the rickety structure without warning and turned over on its side. The wagons were piled up in all directions yet no one was hurt.