RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD.

CONSIDERABLE DAJVLIGE DONE>

The raifi continued, almost without a break throughout yesterday. . The1 Maitai nver, which was in high flood on Tuesday,' rose during the night to within 3ft of the highest point reached during the July flood, and' during the forenoon it ; receded considerably, but with the continuous rain it rose again during the afternoon. Last night« the weather improved somewhat, and the^Maitai fell a little. The Trafalgar street bridge was considerably damaged, two of the piles being either smashed or wa&hod out. About 4 o'clock jesterday afternoon one of the central piers of the* Nile street bridge near Wainui House carried away, and the -was closed for traffic. Apparently one of the approaches to the iittle footbridge near "Bnrasido" has become undermined, as there is a subsidence at one end, which might cause an accident to anyone going along in the dark. The overflow from the Ma;tai river at Clouston's bridge came dawn the north side of Nile street East, flooding Mi- Alfred Greenfield's section at tho coiner of Tory street. The .pipe culvert across the road was insufficient to take the water away, and a trench was dug in case the water cajne down again. • . Between the Collingwood street and .Trafalgar street bridges the driver caused serious erosion on the north bank, and back gardens.-suffered considerably. On one property (Mr Frank Cook's) a fine crop of potatoes was noticed to be gradually encroached on, while several fowlhouses were in a precarious position. The river overflowed its south-west-ern bank between the Normanby and Collingwood street bridges, until only the tops of the fences could be seen. Mesrs Chamberlain and Stannard's engine-house was Sootled. The water in the pond in the Queen's Gardens has risen • considerably,- and overflowed the banks to a eons/durable distance near the Suter Art Gallery. It was practically impossible to get further up the Maitai than Huddleston's, near Clouston's bridge, owing to the road being submerged. Looking from the Ziz-zag, the Maitai Valley above Sunday Hole," between the river and the road, appeared to be covered with water. Considerable damage is reported. Mr E. Woodward, who had a spleadid crop of potatoes and tomatoes on the flats alongside the river, estimates his loss at about £200. The whole oi the crop was -washed away. The Brook street stream was again converted into a raging torrent, and property owners on the banks had an anxious time. An immense volume of water flowed over the crest of the big dam, presenting a magrnficont sight. The caretaker (Mr J. Stone) .states'that more water came down than during the July flood. The small tributaries of the Brools street stream carried large quantities of water ar.d helped to swell the torrent. . ' ' Bjick's bridge was threatened and a gang of workmen was despatched tc save the structure. At Seymour Avenue, the protective works erected by the residents since the July flood undoubtedly- saved theii "properties from further erosion. Above Mr Geo. Parmenter's property, logs, etc., anchored hy wire,-" diverted the herce strength of the current and although the water got in behind the walls "which have been erected the timbering stood the test of the flood. Near the Manuka street bridge, a portion of the ''Lovers' Walk" was washed out, and made impassable foi traffic. ?> About mid-day the manhole of tht sewer at the junction of Hardy and Waimea streets burst, and the watei ..overflowed in all directions, causing pedestrians returning to work after lunch considerable inconvenience. Lower Hardy street, Vanguard street as far as AH Saints'- Church, : and Gloucester street were flooded to a .deptar-of several inches. Ws&atu lane was also under water. The low-lying area in Washington Valley was inundated, the water almost reaching to some of the houses in St Vincent street. ■ ■ Aithough the Rocks road has escaped the yery serious damage it suffered- in tiie July floods, no landslips of a -serious nature having occurred up to the present it suffered injury from the terrific sea_brought up by the northerly gale on Tuesday night. Beyond the basin a considerable breach was made in the sea wall, below the coping, causing a subsidence at, the roadside. Tiie damage, has occurred in the section of the wall which the Waimea, County Council decided.iast week to strengthen, on the recommendation -of its? engineer. *t is feared that the storm has caused some damage to the mole at the new entrance, but the sea "ha's-so far ■been top heavy to enable an examination to be made. The outermost of the six guide posts marking the northern side of the -cut lias disappeared, and °*Q Pr, two oi the others were twisted out of position. Residents -along tbe waterfront profited by the enormous amount of debris brought into the-harbour, and have been busy salvaging timber, -which has turni shed the <: energetic with largo stocks of firewood. Rivers in the comrav,- districts are in

.■ .% ■• "/"•'■ ' , ■• high^flood. The Waii-oa, ovoi-flowed its bank's at Brightwater, the water almost reaching to the decking of the raihvayl bridge. ,'An orchard was submerged, only .the'tops of the trees showing. Mr W. Reay lost a. number of sheep. . A pzolonged rainfall invariably leads t() .slips on the hills, and the present downpour has caused a. good deal... .of loss from this cause, oven in tho cases .of long-established pastures. Tho Buller river is in high flood, and the road on both sides of Murchison is blocked. , ' - The moil services to and from Blenheim aiid Murchison were interrupted ,by flooded rivers, and it is doubtful if the cars will be able to take Tip their iU7ining to-day. Tho Motueka ~ service, was interfered with, but it is Loped the cars will get thiough to-day. Tiie Takaka service is heltl up completely.