FLOODS AT HOKITIKA AND GREYMOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 911, 21 January 1868, Page 2

FLOODS AT HOKITIKA AND GREYMOUTH.

The Westland papers contain reports of serious damages done by floods on the rivers at Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport. The West Coast Tims, of the 6th instant, says : — The weather in Hokitika during the last two days has been very tempestuous. Nearly the whole of Saturday there was nothing but rain, which continued almost without intermission during the night. Yesterday the water literally came down in sheets, and at the time we are writing the rain is still descending in torrents. During the whole day thunder might be heard muttering at intervals ; throughout the afternoon and night the lightning was very vivid, and each flash was quickly followed by loud peals of thunder. The efl'ect of so great a rainfall has-been to fill every drain in the town almost to overflowing and to cause a tremendous fresh in the river. Hid it been otherwise, the probability is thafc not only Gibson's quay, out a large portion of the town wouldliave been submerged. As it is, the river is scouring away the north bank, and the houses at the extreme south of Beach and Revell-streetsare in imminent danger. Indeed, when we visited Beach-street last night, the Wharf Hotel seemed to be in a very precarious condition, from the water having carried away its piles and supports. We fear that we shall hear of heavy damage by floods in the country districts ; already we have received reports of sad havoc being made both in the Grey and Buller districts. We may mention that up to a late hour last night the coach from Christchurch, which was due on Saturday, had not arrived. This, doubtless, is owing to the flooded state of the rivers. We visited the wharf and beach this morning at daylight, and were sorry to notice that the flood had made sad havoc during the night. The Wharf Hotel had disappeared, and the protective work at the end of Revell- street was seriously breached, placing the Steam-packet and Spread Eagle hotels in imminent danger. Another large slice from the North Spit was also wanting, and left one of the two groins that were first placed by Mr. Rochforfc quite uncovered. A frightful freshet rushed down the river, which we never beforereniemberseeing so terribly flooded. If the lower end of Revell-street and the greater part of Beaeh-stre?) are to be saved, the promptest steps must be taken. The Grey River Argus of the 4th gives the following report of floods at G-rey-mouth : — Tho last four days are not likely to be readily forgotten by the inhabitants of Greymouth, the weather having been more violent than has ever been experienced on the coast since its settlement by Europeans. On Monday evening a heavy, lowering bank of clouds was seen coming up from the S.W., and the weather-wise predicted a severe "burster" from that quarter. And sure enough, before darkness set in, heavy squalls broke over the town, and rain fell in torrents. As the storm increased loud peals of thunder and incessant flashes of lightning added to the terrors of the scene. The lightning was more vivid than anything that we can remember having witnessed in New Zealand, and not unfrequently assumed the form known as forked, and the thunder reverberated from hill to hill all night through. During the night the rain seemed to come down in solid sheets of water, so heavily did it fall, and the lengthened durations of the showers left little doubt of their being followed by a. flood in the river. On Tuesday morning early the river overflowed its banks, and was pouring over the breach at the end of Boundary-street like a mill-race, and soon became a perfect torrent, which speedily submerged the lower portion of the town and reproduced all the discomforts and damages of former floods. The rain ceased somewhat duriDg the day and the river rapidly "lowered, and it was hoped that the weather had effected its worst. Wednesday, New Year's Day, broke rather finer, but rain fell again very heavily during the day and evening, but in fitful showers, and although the river still ran high, there did not appear to be much fear of another flood. Before daylight, however, the river had again commenced to flow into Boundary street, and before midday the volume of water overflowing the bank had seriously increased. The rain continued to come down, and towards evening the flood had reached within a foot or so of the height attained by the great flood of November. A perfect sea ran along Boundary-street and over the bank at the lower end of the Government township, carrying devastation wherever it penetrated. The front wall of the Empire Hotel was burst in, and the flood poured in angry waves right through and under the building, and beat against the other houses along the street as far down as Arney-street and up to beyond Albert-street. The recently laid tramway was torn up and much of it floated away ; the embankment across the Boundarystreet creek, formed for carrying the line, was burst through, gardens were submerged, cottages invaded, and property of all kinds that would float was sent adrift. The remaining portion of the piling from Boundary-street was, with the exception of some fifty feet, entirely swept away, and the river was eating so rapidly into the bank opposite the Maori township, that it was seriously feared that it would soon work quito close to the buildings. And, indeed, had the rain kept falling at the same rate for a few hours longer, nothing could have saved the greater portion of the Government township. But providentially, the water had commenced to recede, and before yesterday morning had fallen considerably, and has not since overflowed the bank. The amount of damage done to the street is very great, not less than 25ft. of the roadway having gone opposite Arney-street, and from ten to fifteen feet all along the front of the Government township. In some parts there is only a width of fifteen feet between the river and the footpath. Anyono looking at the huge slice taken off the bank at the lower portion of the town can in an instant see that unless prompt and effectual means are taken to prevent it, the main body of the river will cut right through the angle of the town. On Thursday morning the Saltwater creek was in high flood, and carried away about two thirds of the bridge. The gap thus made directed the current towards tho township, which very soon cut into the bank and seriously endangered the safety of the wholo town. Up river more damage must have been clone, but in the absence of any communication we are unable to glean any particulars. Mr. Nelson's gardens were flooded several feet deep, and all the families on the agricultural sections on the flat had to betake themselves to boats. Great loss has been occasioned through the destruction of the growing crops of vegetables, and the washing out of potatoes. The Wharf stood firmly, tho additional deep piles recently driven having effectually secured it. The old protection above the wharf also stood well ; and we are glad to say that owing to the timely precautions taken by the clerk of the works, none of the material for the woi'ks now in progress was lost.