WATER-SWEPT.

I THAMES DELUGED. POWER SHORTAGE LIKELY. STREAM THROUGH HOSPITAL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. The worst flood for many years caused thousands of pounds' worth of damage between two and three o'clock yesterday morning, when flood waters from the Karaka Creek, which flows through the centre of the town, swept northern Pollen Street and Grahamstown areas as the result of phenomenal rain. Six inches fell in 24 hours, accompanied by a cyclonic storm. Conditions were reminiscent of the flood of 1917, when 13in fell in 48 hours. The storm was preceded by a humid spell, the glass dropping below 29 deg. The gale continued throughout the night and forenoon, and by two o'clock yesterday morning, at high tide, all streams were overflowing. Where the Karaka Creek runs under Pollen Street through a culvert in the central portion of the town, a tree caused a blockage and flood waters swept north along the main street through shops and houses to a depth of over 2ft or 3ft, carrying along logs and boulders. When the tide fell, tons of silt and mud were left in the streets and over properties. When the waters receded this morning, northern Pollen Street was a desolate scene. Silt was heaviest between Cochrane and Paliau Streets and in the vicinity of these intersections. In Grahamstown, the older portion of the town, business premises on the southern side of the Karaka Creek to Mary Street also suffered badly. The majority of business people were warned in time to remove their goods from floor levels, but property damage is considerable. Many residents jumped out of bed only to find themselves in a swirling torrent. Household goods floated around and were carried away in the flood. The worst sufferers were hotelkeepers in this area. The Junction Hotel caught the main force of the overflow from the Karaka Creek, as did the Queen's and Park Hotels. To-day the proprietors are occupied in pumphig out cellars and cleaning channels. Shopkeepers affected are busy "making their premises fit for business. Braemar Private Hospital, near the mouth of the Karaka Creek, was swept by nearly 2ft of water. There was extensive damage and loss of utensils. The Presbyterian Church lawns and gardens, adjacent to the blockage, are a scene of ruin. They were swept bare and piled with rocks, silt and driftwood. Borough workmen are busy cleaning the channels, but it will be many days before traces of the flood are removed. At the southern entrance to the town, the Kaueranga River is high. The flood isolated Thames for several hours. Fencing and stock were swept away, and losses are heavy throughout the Kaueranga Valley. Big logs gave fishermen a most anxious time protecting their fleet. Swirllin<T waters a mile in expanse swept across the Parawai Flats several feet deep. Rhodes Park, the sports ground, is like a lake. The borough water race, the sole supply from the Upper Kaueranga, is again blocked by a slip in a cutting which, after a serious stoppage about three years ago, was replaced with an open fluming of conduit. It is estimated that it will be a week before the supply is restored to the town. Meantime, there is no water for power purposes, and probably there will be a domestic shortage. Reports from the Thames Coast indicate that campers and residents had a most trying time. In the sudden rush of deep" flood waters, wash-outs which were caused to the approaches to bridges on the coast road are estimated to prevent through traffic for two days. Many slips have occurred, bridges have been damaged and roads scoured.