WEATHER ON THE WEST COAST.

Evening Star, Issue 7475, 20 March 1888, Page 2

WEATHER ON THE WEST COAST.

Such a stretch of bad weather has rarely, if ever, been experienced on the West Coast. Just as an already long spell of bad weather was thought to be clearing up, the wind went round on Friday to N.E., and it rained worse than ever, with a furious gale of wind and heavy thunder and lightning. Four steamers have been alongside the Greymouth wharf over a week. Four more have been outside the bar about the same time. Greymouth narrowly escaped being Hooded on Saturday, but all possible precautious had been taken against damage. The Muwhera successfully crossed the bar at top of high water and against a very strong current. The two otfuer steamers came up to the bar, but put to sea again. The damage done to the road lleefton to Lyell to Westport is tomething fearful. Several large slips have taken place during the last day or two, and thero is not the slightest chance of traffic between the coast and Westport and Lyell for months unless via Reefton. It is estimated that between LB.OOO and L 9,000 will be required to put the road in repair. Mr Reeves, M.H.R., reports that all up the country is full of water, and he had to swim several creeks between Reefton and Inangahua Junction. The new Buller bridge shows no ill effects from the recent heavy floods. The breakwater at Westport is uninjured*