THE FLOOD AT MERCER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 187, 9 August 1893, Page 5

THE FLOOD AT MERCER.

A DEPLORABLE SPECTACLE,

1 GREAT DAMAGE REPORTED

Our correspondent ab Morcer, • writing under date of yesterday, states: "The Waikato lias risen 8 inches in 24 hours. There are only 2 dry floors iv tho houße3 on the north side of Mercer. Tho railway line south of Mercer is believed to be washed away for miles. The line I.J miles north of Mercer is submerged upwards of 2fb. Tho gale did immense damage to buildings and fences ab Mercer. People are leaving their houses, and up to yesterday six house a wero completely deserted. There is water to the depth of over four feet in many housos, and tho furniture etc. is floating about. The island opposite Morcer is completely submerged and tho owner is completely ruined. His bouse is under water. The Great South Road is flooded for miles. Business is at a standstill. The stores and hotel are Boats and canoes aro moored in the^mja.in street. Dead horses, cattle and pigeifljiumbers have been seen floating down the.rjiyor. It is a poor outlook for the Europeans and natives on low lying lands adjoining" the Waikato as no agricultural operations r v^pre possible for the last 15 months, and now what soeds have been saved for tho ensuing season have been destroyed. The flax mills along the river bank are all aba standstill as the water covors most of the engines. Several are heavy losers both in raw flax and fibre. Mercer will present a deplorable spectacle when the flood aubsides. THE FLOODS IN THE WAIPA.

The Otorohanga (King Country) correspondent of the "Waikato Times " writes :— " We have narrowly escaped another flood. On Friday night the river rose to within about a foot of the level of the last flood, but fortunately just as the people were beginning to shift theirgoods and furniture bhe river began slowly to subside. As ib is, we have nob escaped without damage. Mr Ellis has again been tbe chief sufferer at hia mill property, though not to such an extent as before. The railway ballasting has also sufferod. Altogether this year has been a most terrible season. Ono of our Native Land surveyors has kept an account during the last five months, and finds, there has been more or less rain on each, qfffour days oub of five during that period.";g $ Tho Whatawhata correspondent fti^the " Waikato Times " writes :—The result of the wet weather, has sent the river qpy.ery rapidly. On Saturday the water,,-was within three feeb of the big flood mark and rising steadily. On Sunday the river had risen"over the old mavk several feet, so that the present flood is the highest on record. Already I have heard of some losses in live stock, sheep being caught on the outer terraces and washed away. All traffic about the district is, of course, stopped, many of the bridges being under water. Fears are also entertained thab the Koromatua bridge, which is in rather a' shaky condition, will go this time. Other small bridges higher up tho river have gone."