FLOODS AT GREYMOUTH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8932, 26 June 1905, Page 2

FLOODS AT GREYMOUTH.

BIGGEST EVER EXPERIENCED. SCENES OF GREAT EXCITEMENT. MANY NARROW ESCAPES. MUCH LIVE STOCK LOST. IPBIB9 ASSOCIATION.] GREYMOUTH, June 24. To-day will long be remembered in Greylouth aa the occasion of one of the largest oods ever experienced. We have had the Old Man' flood, the "Jubilee" flood, the Record Reign" flood, but none of them quailed the one that_swept the town toay. For 36 hours rain fell incessantly, nd reports from the country districts howed that the rivers were rising. The retails rang out an alarm, and business leople turned out and packed what stuff hey could before the water gained upon hem. — - At i o'clock the town was completely tnder water, the stream tearing and ruahng down the principal streets with, great uiy. It was almost impossible to Iceep mo's feet against the.. current. Boats and willing hands quickly got to ,v-jrk, and rescued the people in the lower quarters of the town, many of whom were standing on the tables to keep out of the water. There were six boats at the wharf, and they had an anxious time, as ropes were snapping, only to be replaced' by gallant \ efforts. At one time it looked as if the ivomona would go to sea, and as the yes- \ sels were tugging at the wharf- with such, force feais were entertained that the structure would collapse. It was difficult to tell where the river started- or the wharf ended. All was one sea of water, rushing over the wharf to the business places. " v In Mawhcra Quay, the principal business street, the water was fully five feet deep, and in Tainui and Alackay streets four feet. At the post office the water. was over three feet, but the operators 'stuck to their work. Eoats were plying all over the town, ami and traps, etc, vrere engaged in rescue work. From every conceivable point cameras were at work, and some excellent photos were taken. The scene can scarcely be described, for where a few hours before people met and walked with perfect safety on the asphalt footpath, it had become a raging stream. Men walking about would bo seen to suddenly disappear, and on coming to thu surface it would be found that "they had fallen into a hole cut in, the road. From Upper Mawhera Quay the scene presented a huge howling stream, with" shops buried for a depth .of three or four-feet in its midst. " ~ -. About 11 o'clock the Council organised a shovel brigade, and efforts were made to cut a gap from the lagoon, so as to let the water have access to the 'sea, and. so relieve the town; This -unfortunately did not have much effect, for until about sbi o'clock the water remained stationary, and then began to recede; ' Reports from the country show thai great and serious damage has been done. All railway communication was suspend ed, owing to washouts and the bridge! being carried away. Settlers throughout the valley lost nearly all their stock Twelve valuable horses grazing on thi racecourse were drowned; _ One ,farmei named Merritt, at Coal Creek,' lost all hi live stock. The damage to stock at; Coal Creek ii not so serious as was at first thought. On settler, however, estimates his- loss a £150. There were many narrow escapes, bu with the exception of those on the dredge and the old age pensioner no fatal case are reported. • • • ' ~~r- . ' The flood is considered the severest ex perienced here, and the damage to th railways, roads and bridges will be con siderable. ,' , ___ The^flood has been named the "Pre mier#locd of 1905." ---„"*"* Just as the water was leaving the tow: the firebell rang out an alarm, and ther was great excitement. The fire. took plac in an unoccupied, house at Cobden. Th brigade, under difficulties, went to, Cobde and assisted.

To-day thousands of people are inspecting the destruction. FIVE MEN MISSING. CARRIED OUT TO SEA. GREYMOUTH, June 25. An old age pensioner, residing on the banks of the Teremakau river, was carried out to sea in his hut. It is reported that the Fern Flat dredge broke away with tWo men on board, and that tho Greenstone dredge -broke* away with two men on board. The Teremakau bridge is said to be washed away, besides many other reports that cannot cc confirmed this evening. . DAMAGE TO THE STREETS. ' , About 8 o'clock on Saturday evening the flood began, to recede; and by~ 10 o'clock the water was off the main streets. 'Sunday morning broke fine- and bright, and the sun seemed to mock, the desolate surroundings. » The principal streets resembled a river bed, gravel being piled up feet high on the pavement. The railway lines on the wharf were lifted on to the middle of the street. -Large holes were scoured out, one being sufficient to bury a horse and cart. The shops presented a terrible sight, mud and slush being inches deep. All day the work of cleaning^ has been carried out, all employees with buckets and brooms being kept hard at it. The streets were practically ruined. In Boundary street particularly the holes are very large. Boxes, tanks, barrels and debris t of all kinds are lying about the- streets. - Reports from the country are contradictory, and until railway and telegraph communication is restored it is impossible to state the real extent of the damage.

OTHER PLAGES INUNDATED.

CHRISTCHURCH, June 25. The River Ashley overflowed and inundated the lowknd3. The Waimakarm has not been so high for years, and railway traffic, is delayed. Telegraph communication south of Rakaia is interfered with. In North Canterbury the floods are serious.

BLENHEIM, June 25.

Ib is feared that considerable loss has been occasioned through floods in the Wakamarina and Kaituna districts, where they have interrupted the coach traffic. ASHBURTON, June 25. Traffic is interrupted " on the-Methven railway line, owing to a washout the coun try being flooded.

REEFTON, June 26. A big flood occurred in the . lnangahua liver on Saturday morning, which shifted the western pier of the landing bridge two feet down stream. -1- "

Other damage is reported through slips in various parts of the country.