FLOODS AT PAEROA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 148, 25 June 1896, Page 5

FLOODS AT PAEROA.

A MAN DROWNED.

FELL INTO A WATER RACE.

PAEROA TOWNSHIP INUNDATED,

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Paeroa. this day. A lamentable accident happened ab Karangahake lasb evening aboub six o'clock, resulting in the death by drowning of C. S. Brown, employed by the Crown Mines Company to look alter the tram line and water race. Brown had been up nearly all the previous night during the rain attending to the water race, and also yesterday, and had just got home, when he was recalled by a youngs man named Dudley from the battery owing bo something having stopped up the water from getting into tbe race. Brown, and-Dudley went along bhe water race to the dam and cleared away the obstruction, and were returning walking along a plank laid down the middle of the race when Dudley, who was in fronb, heard a cry and looking round .-aw Brown had disappeared. He must have slipped on bhe plank and fallen head first into the river, which was rushing pact at great speed, being flooded almost level with tho race.

Brown's body was found this morning by George Morrison and Alick Agnew, just below Adams Bros.' store. The doceaeed had been terribly knocked about by rocks, and had his coat and one boot and sock torn off. An inquest will be held this afternoon.

The deceased was very well known and highly respected, having lived in Karanga hake for many years. He was a man who took the greatest interosb in his work, and would go out ab all hours of the night to look after his particular duties. The poor fellow died at hi? poet, and will be mourned by a wife and large family,

yesterday's flood was the mopt serious that has occurred here for many years. The water in the river rose till the railway wharf and other wharves were covered and a large tract of country was flooded. Tbe road to the Junction was covered, and the Waitekauri bridge leading to Waihi was carried away, and cannot be replaced for a week. Two bridges leading to the Golden Cross mine and Grace Darling were swept away, besides the suspension bridge near Karangahake. A small storage shed at the Upper Vvharf, Paeroa, was carried bodily down the stream and dashed to pieces at the railway bridge.

Altogether considerable damage has been done. • - •" '

The river has now gone down