The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, JULY 1, 1867. THE MONTH

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 24, 1 July 1867, Page 153

The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY, JULY 1, 1867. THE MONTH

In our last summary we had occasion to mention the occurrence of a heavy flood over the country which at that time, was in course of subsidence. We have now to report that it was almost immediately followed by another, which was in some places considerably higher, and in some respects even worse than the former. We shall not again go into details, but merely remark that it did a great deal of damage by the destruction of property, particularly of fencing, and by the destruction of bridges and damage to roads; and that for some days it cut off all communication between the town and country. The actual damage done, however, has not proved nearly so great as was at first feared it would be; and, by a vigorous pushing on of repairs to roads and bridges, communication was soon restored.

Several important points were established by the distinctive peculiarities of the two floods, —the first of which was mainly caused by an excessive rainfall, and the difficulty experienced by so. large a quantity of water forcing its way to the sea with sufficient rapidity against the obstruction caused by a strong S.E. wind; bu tthe sea itself had but little to do with the matter —it being at the time of neap tides* The second, on the contrary, was one week later, and, being spring tides, was more owing to the sea itself. Accordingly, the Spit, which almost escaped submersiononthefirst occasion, was flooded to an extent almost unprecedented on the second, —very few buildings on the lower portion entirely escaping the water; At one timeidhring the second flood, the western end of the spit itself appeared to be in danger of being washed away by the action of the sea, a breach ovbr 4 it haying been 'actually effected, but bjr 4 the prompt actionof

the authorises in checking its action, the danger has been averted, and its safety, at least for the time, ensured.

One of the effects of the floods has been of a nature, that will prove of extensive benefit to the country submerged, in that they have brought from the hills and deposited over the low country a large' quantity of virgin soil of qu argillaceous nature and superior quality, which is left in a stratum from a fraction of au iuch in some cases to fully four feet in others j this of itself is protection to such lands from floods of any ordinary description, while the quality and productive capabilities-of these lands are greatly increased.

A report of a highly important character (and which we regret we are unable to find room for in this summary) on the floods—the best means of avoiding such for the future; the harbour—its improvement and preservation ; and the protection of the Spit from the destructive action of the sea in south-easterly gales, has been drawn up by Mr Balfour, Colonial Engineer, who happened, fortunately, to be present in the Province throughout the time. He recommends, in brief, the raising of an embankment on each side, and at some distance from th< channels of the rivers subject to overflow, as the means of confining and guiding 1 the surplus water to the proper outlet, aud certain harbour works, including extra wharf accommodation, piling, and dredging, and the construction of a kind of quay round the western end of the Spit, which, while it would serve for its protection, would enable large vessels to lay alongside and partially discharge cargo previously to entering the inner harbour We only trust that the province may be in a position to undertake works 6t such importance in any moderate space of time. We shall reproduce the lucid report itself at our earliest ability.

The only other event of importance during the month has been the meeting of the Provincial Council—the two vacancies, noticed ia our last, having been filled up by the return of his ; Honor the Superintendent to his old seat, and of a nevr member (Mr A. Irvine) in place of Mr Newton, who, we believe, will prove a supporter of the Government. A full resumi of the Council proceedings will be found in another column. No business of any great importance has as yet been transacted. The state of commercial depression still continues in the province, as we believe is also the case throughout the colony, but the approaching spring will, we trust, see a return to our usual prosperity; we have no alternative but to submit and await a favourable reaction from the present stagnation. *

Our mails via Panama are, as usual, non est, and once more we may have to send off our correspondence, &c., before the receipt of the incoming mail. This is a state of things which cannot be submitted to. The steamer which leaves to-day with the Panama mail might just as well leave four or five days hence, and still be in time at Wellington for the steamer, leaving that port on the Bth, giving us the chance of receiving our correspondence by . the upward vessel, which is due here to-morrow.

Our last homeward mails, vi& Suez, were not transmitted in time for the mail steamer, owing to the delay of the downward vessel by the late southerly gales.