DISASTROUS FLOODS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10213, 6 December 1893, Page 5

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

LOSS OP LIFE. SETTLERS RUINED. IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OF STOCK. {Tee Press Association.J NAPIER, Dec. 5. The most disastrous floods ever recorded in Hawke’s Bay occurred last night.. The whole cf the low-lying country between Napier and Ormondville, sixty-three miles in extent, is more or less affected. Very heavy rain commenced on Saturday evening, and foil on Sunday and Monday to the south of Napier, bat, apparently, the country to the north is little affected, as the Taupo coach got through without difficulty yesterday. The first intimation of damage received in Napier was the, news of two breaks in the permanent way of the railway near Ta Ante, but it was expected that communication would be restored in a few hours. However, all the rivers commenced to rise very rapidly, and the damage extended. The country is yet eo much under water that accurate details of the damage cannot be ascertained, but the large bridges at Waipawa and Waitangi are seriously damaged, and smaller bridges have been washed away, closing all railway communication between here and Ormondville. Most cf the country bridges also are seriously damaged, but the postal authorities hope that one route may be left open for coach traffic. Telegraphic communication south of Waipukurau was interrupted about' nine o’clock, but it was then known that the floods were rising, and that immerse losses of sheep had occurred. Still the settlers on the plains around Napier were not alarmed. The Tutakuri was not in great volume, and there were excellent mouths to the Ngarurora and Tukituki. and it was thought that all the flood waters could escape. There was a great deal of surface water lying about, but no greater disaster than the loss of potato crops and cut hay was fea'red. After midnight, however, the waters began to rise with phenomenal rapidity, and to cover the whole country. Messengers galloped into town for boats, and these saved many families. In some cases the water was so high that holes had to be cut through the roofs to receive the inmates. The largo embankment erected by Messrs Nelson Bros, and a few settlers at Clive some fourteen years ago. for the protection of their properties broke, and a large extent of thickly-stocked country, which was believed to be quite safe, was flooded deeply. Though the rain ceased this morning and the waters are rapidly subsiding, the roads were impassable this afternoon, and no accmate information aa to the extent of the losses can be had yet. Practically the whole of the crops of the Ahuriri plains and nearly all the stock mmt have perished. Many-settlers will be totally ruined.

At Waipawa families ia low-lying sections were rescued, but it was impossible to communicate with the houses ia the river-bed, there being no boats. The Herald’s correspondent telegraphs this afternoon that the houses seem to be falling over, and it ia feared that ail the inhabitants are drowned.

East Ciive, the lowest part of the plains around Napier, had not been visited by boats at four o’clock this afternoon, and it is feared there will be loss of life there. So far only three deaths have been ascertained. Mr Donald M’Parlane, brother-in-law of the manager of tea Maraekakaho station, and four settlers- were endeavouring to secure a suspension bridge, when ail were washed away. Two made their way to chore and two got on to an island, where they were rescued by Maoris, but M’Parlane was drowned. The Rev S. Douglas, Presbyterian minister, wished to get to Taradale, aud accepted a lift on a butcher’s cart. At a low part of the road the current was so strong that the cart was overturned, and Mr Dtjugiaa was swept away to sea. A boy at Clive, whose name ia unknown, was also seen to drown. Oa the higher parts of the plains about Hastings the water is nob so deep, and there is no current; but the dams are all choked up, and the whole country Is under water. The rain threatens to return, and if it do so the disasters must be still greater. Latee. Information as to the damage filters through slowly owing to the impaaeability of the toads along the line of telegraph. Though it has been fine for ten hours the waters have gone down very little, and the rain threatens to set in again, in which case further damage may result. So far us can be ascertained, only Messrs M’Farlane and Douglas have lost their lives. The report as to the loss of a boy at Clive requires confirmation. When the boats reached East Ciive the residents were found better off than was expected, and though some were perched on the roofs of the bouses only one woman would leave iu the boats. At Waipawa all the residents in the threatened houses were rescued. At Waipukurau one family nearly lost their lives. Their homo was carried bodily some distance down the strsaml The family were seen oa the roof making signals of distress, but nothing couid be done for them, and they spent the nigbt there. In the morning boats were got from the lake, and all were- rescued, much exhausted, The loss of stock is estimated at least 60,000 sheep, probably double that number, and huadreoe of horses and cattle. There will ba very distress, and the Herald baa already opened a fund for the relief cf the settlers.

Latest uewa baa just come in, that a young man named John Clare called at Birch's station, and inquired fais way to Anderson's. Soon afterwards he was seen

in difficulties in the river, and he rolled off his horse, not being seen any more.

INUNDATED TOWNSHIPS. SETTLERS RESCUED. [FROM OUB OWN COEEESPONHEHT.I The moat disastrous and extensive flood that ever occurred in this province baa just taken place. We have had continuous and heavy rain for day a past, and on Sunday it was known that the surrounding country was threatened with a; serious visitation of water. Last night (Monday) we were aware that the rivers and the lagoons were in flood, and about two o’clock A CRT FOB HELP . came along the wires from Farndoh, six. miles off. To this cry the Borough Inspector of Works and Sergeant Cullen responded, and Mr Gacftm put on a special train to convey boats to the relief of the 1 beleagnred people cf the town of Olive. 1 On reaching Oliva they found that the neighbouring and more low-lying towns; of Meanea and Papakura were in great danger, the Tutakuri river having broken' its banks near the mission station! Later, word came from Clive that A EOT WAS DROWNED, that the water was rising rapidly, that people had had to take to the roofs of the houses, and that more boats were urgentlyneeded. Boats were at once got ready and a special train dispatched with them, and a rescuing party as far as the line was intact, about a mile and a half from Olive. From this point they bad to pull across the flooded paddocks towards the 1 town. The work of rescue was then proceeded with, and the people conveyed to higher ground, several being brought to Farndon station, and thence to town; Whole families had to leave everything to save their lives.- Unhappily , THKEE CASUALTIES HAVE OCOUEBBD, Mr Duncan M'Parlan.e, brother of Mrs Douglas M'Lean, of Maraekakaho, was swept down the stream last evening, » boy in Clive was drowned while trying to navigate a tub, and the Rev Mr Douglas/ Presbyterian minister, who was being driven along the Taradalo road on a butcher’s cart, has also lost his life. The road being submerged the cart got off the crown of the road and capsized, and the furious current setting towards the sea swept Mr Douglas instantly out of reach. The - damage done to the country is fearful. Crops and potato patches are irretrievably ruined, Houses have been desolated, and geode damaged and thousands of sheep destroyed. Hundreds of these animals were washed up along the beach this morning* A number • of SHALL HOLDERS ABE RUINED, and it is generally felt that an appeal will have to be made on their behalf to the entire Colony. The scene is dreadful to contemplate, and the weather signs are by no means reassuring. At present the entire country is under water, and the lagoon threatens to ovet spread the lower part of the town. The damage along the railway line is terrible, the formation has been washed out in several places, bridges have gone and traffic is entirely suspended. Mr Garstin and iris staff have done all that. could he done to meet tbe demands of the - occasion, and great credit is due to the telegraph operators for their promptitude in communicating the urgent messages from Clive to the proper authorities. But for this I should probably have had to chronicle a serious loss of life. HASTINGS IS ISOLATED, the bridges being dowa.oa both aides of it. The town of Napier baa not yet suffered, but I think we have by no means done, with the weather. I have just seen a party of eight who were rescued by boats at Clive and forwarded to Napier. They are all scantily clothed, and they were clinging to the toofs of houses many hours before they were rescued. Constable Rutledge has just returned from au ineffectual search in a boat, at great personal risk, for the body of the Rev Mr Douglas. He reports that tbe current was so strong that the body must have been washed out to eea. Great regret is expressed. The police parties, under Sergeant Cullen, Detective Kirby and Constable Norwood, have returned to town after some terrible experiences. They had great difficulty iu navigating the lagoon and the river, and when they arrived they found Clive desolate. The report that had already reached town conveyed no idea of the desolation. The people were SITTING AND CLINGING ON THE HOUSETOPS, and something like a hundred of them had gained shelter at Smith’s Hotel, Farndon, The police removed all who would leave, but many preferred- remaining on their houses. Provisions were conveyed to these, and the others were brought to town. A late message informs me that at Maraekakaho two deaths by drpwning have occurred, those of Mr M’Farlane and a man in search of employment named John Cl»re. The damage done is at present incalculable, but judging from appearances I should say it will be long before Hawke’s Bay regains itself. Au enormous quantity of live stock has been destroyed. Messrs Stoddart, Higgins and Robinson have lost terribly, and there has . been an ENORMOUS LOSS OF GOODS AND CHATTELS. The water ia subsiding, but the appearance of things is very threatening. Too much praise cannot be given to the police for their prompt and efficient action, or to the Mayor and Captain Kraoft, of the Spit, with hie staff of boatmen. I here is always an amusing episode in cases of this) / sort. To-dsy a prominent enthusiastic prohibition's on foot was unable to dross a swollen stream. While he (stood uncertain what to do, a cask rolled out of Swan’s brewery cart and floated. This prohibitionist jumped astride of it and was borne to terra firma.