SEA ENCROACHMENT AT HOKITIKA.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3378, 30 June 1876, Page 3

SEA ENCROACHMENT AT HOKITIKA.

The West Coast limes, of the 24th, gives the following account of the damage done by the recent flood :— Ever since the river has been running through the new channel near tbe flagstaff, the sea has gradually, but surely, been encroaching on the beach from the flagstaff down to Johnston's right-of-way. Especially was this the case at the back of the Empire Hotel, and in the immediate neighborhood. On Thursday night, at high tide, a heavy north-west sea was rolling on to the beach, and this had the effect, it being spring tiJe, of doing a considerable amount of damage to outhouses, fences, and tbe back premises I generally of the houses on tbe west sides of I Bevell and Beach streets. The sea poured I through the Empire right-of-way in con-

siderable quantity, and crossing the street ran down Camp street into the lew lying quarters of the town, Tancred and Hamilton streets. Yesterday morning, at high tide, although the surf was not quite so fierce, it had but little abated, and matters looked even worse. The continued removal of the beach by the sea allowed the latter freer access, and some more damage was done. Down the Empire right-of-way the surf rolled into Bevell street and along Beach street into the river, near the flagstaff. Ever since Thursday heavy rain has been almost continuous, and although there was not a very large fresh, the heavy sea caused the river to remain very high. The weather officer here, Captain Turnbull, received several warning telegrams recently. On the 20th it was wired to him to watch the barometer, as bad weather was approaching, probably from north-east to west. The barometer, which on ihe 20th was up to a great height, 30*44, did begin to fall on that day. On the 21st another telegram was received to the effect that a heavy sea might be expected from the north-west. On the 22nd the following arrived—"Watch barometer, bad weather approaching, indications for gale between south-west and east." The barometer during yesterday afternoon fell to 28 54, lower than it has ever been known to fall in Hokitika, and probably in New Zealand. During yesterday, and the previous day, the wind kept determinedly to the east, but notwithstanding this, a heavy northwest sea continued to roll in. It is impossible to estimate the amount of damage done on Thursday night and Friday. Unless the bank again form and that early, the depreciation in the value of certain properties will be considerable. It is just possible that we may have seen the worst and last of the encroachment, but the chances tend rather the other way at present. Property holders may consider themselves safe for another fortnight, but with the large quantity of sand washed away, a westerly wind accompanying the next spring tides might prove a very serious affair. The part which appears to be in moat danger is from the Empire Hotel up as far as Mr Perry's store. Indeed beyond tbat to Mr Manson's corner, the beach does not indicate over much security. The foundations of the Empire Hotel, as indeed its whole surroundings were immersed in water for several hours. Every thing in the back quarters was afloat, and there was no access to the front doors except by a process ef wading knee-deep. The landlord of the establishment was observed at one period of the day signalling to two of his friends to come over from the Bank corner to condole with him in his watery troubles, but the proffered " wet" did not induce them to cross. Sharp's cab was also seen to approach the door with a load of lady passengers who were each placed within the threshold by clinging round the neck of their gallant escorter. The vacant space to the north of the Empire, recently purchased by Dr Bosetti, had a small rivulet of its own, from which the waters wended their way to the opposite side of the street. Messrs Harrison, bootmaker; Campbell, butcher; Ingram, hairdresser; and Bramwell, tailor; all suffered considerably in the back part of their sections and premises; Mr Campbell had a good quantity of oats stored in one of his back places, which he had bagged and removed before the tide reached its highest. Mr Crerar's yard and back store got filled with water, but care had previously been taken to remove any goods of value, and only a few papers on the floor got saturated, precaution having been taken to cut channels across the footpath in front to prevent the water from rising too high underneath the building. The back yards and premises of Mr Beit, Madames Barnard and Dean, Mr Proctor, Mr Nicholson, Mrs Dunbar, Mr Sammons, Mr Mcc, and Mr Perry all suffered more or less. Mr Mcc was on the alert on Thursday evening late, and had a portion of his druggist's stock, which is at any time an awkward stock to remove, taken to other premises for the time being. Mr Perry, next door, was also kept busy shifting and raising his grocery stock, the water being at one time very threatening. From O'Hara's hotel to Manson's corner, fences, gardens, and outhouses all Buffered to a small extent.