THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3681, 2 May 1883, Page 3

THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

GREAT DAMAGE TO STOCK AND PROPERTY. RAILWAY COMMUTATION INTERRUPTED. Wellington , , This d;iy. Stoadv rain set in last night, and hascontinued since. It is still mining heavily, and there is no indication of it taking- off. CiiRiSTCiiURCit, This day. _ The railway authorities notify that, in consequence of breaches in the line between Rakaia and Studholme junction and damage to the Ashburton bridge, it was not expected that trains would be able to run farther south to-day than Rakaia. It may be possible to take passengers across the portions of the line between Rakaia and Chertscy by

(roily, and then to Ashburton by train, but it is'not probable that passengers "will be conveyed further South than Aslibuvton. Traffic- is .suspended on the north b'ne.

Rain ceased at daylight this morning, but the weather is still very threatening. Further damage to the railway lines in various parts of the district is reported. The rainfall last month was G'G3 inches, being over three times more than for the same month for many years past. Tmaec, This clay-

Heavy rains continued to fall throughout the district on Monday night and yesterday, causing the heaviest flood known for many years. Three or four inches fell during Monday and Monday night. The rivers are very high, but none of the larger bridges arc damaged. A portion of the township of Temuka has been under water for twentyfour hours. A number of residents had to leave their houses at Albury, where a blacksmith's shop was washed away by the river, and a family named Cowper barely escaped with life. At Washdykc several families had to be taken from their dwellings on horseback in the middle of the night. Considerable loss of live stock is reported. The railway is considerably damaged on the north and south and Albury lines, and traffic is stopped. A number of small bridges have been washed away. No mails have been received from Duncdin or Christchurch. Mr Back, the traffic manager of the railway, is here, and is doing his utmost to get the line fit for traffic. Oajiaru, This day. The heavy rain which has been falling for the last three days has had rather a serious effect upon the railway lines. The express train from Duuedin arrived at the usual time, but Avas obliged to return. Owing to several portions of the line between Studholme junction and Timaru being carried ivway or otherwise injured a train from Oainaru to Timaru which left in the afternoon got as far as Studholme junction, but was unable to return owing to the lino bcinji , injured since it passed. There arc no reports of injuries to the southern or branch lines.

Dunedin, This day. The weather here is dull and showery, but the rtiinf nil is not liciu y.