HEAVY FLOODS

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 60, 23 March 1880, Page 2

HEAVY FLOODS

BETWEEN OROUA BRIDGE J?XD PALMKRSTON. + ONE CHILD DROWNED. The heavy rains that have Mien during the past lew days caused a great Hood in the Manawatu Eiver, which consequently hacked up the smaller streams that flow into it. On Saturday night last it was considered improbable that the train would arrive at Foxton as usual, as it was . known that the Oroua Eiver was then hank high ; however, it was ahle to run through, and arrived all right shortly after the usual hour. From information gained hy our reporter. . who visited the Oroua Bridge yesterday, it appears that the water steadily rose all Satrvday and Sunday, and hy the evening of the latter day, it was level with" the rails at the Oroua Station, and reached its highest about 9 yesterday (Monday) morning, when the water" was a little ahoye the wheels of some trucks standing on the rails in front of the platform, and running level with the floor of the Comity bridge. The water extended all round the hollow between the station and Mason's house, forming a complete lake. As it was known that the usual morning train would . not be able to go through to Palmerston, a canoe was taken from Fdxton for the purpose of ferrying the passengers and mails across where the rails were flooded. Mr Stewart, tho District Engineer, and Mr Nye, with a gang of workmen, went by this train. Oil arriving at the Bridge, the train could not approach closer than 100 yards to the station, when the passengers, of whom there were a good number, were transferred to the canoe and .taken on. It was found that the rails were completely submerged as far as Jackeytown, a distance of three and a half miles. At that station the passengers joined the other train, and proccejbd on their journey. "When the authorities found they would not be able to take all the passengers in the one canoe, the Maoris were asked to assist, but the demand they made was so extortionate that the engine wits sent back to Foxton for a boat, and the " Hose " was taken up in the morning, and will be used as the fer-ry-boat until the line is repaired. The passengers by the midday train were brought down in the boat and ""*> canoe, and the train reached Foxton at 10 minutes to four in the afternoon. We regret to state that one lite has been sacrificed through the flood. Owing to tho Manawatu overflowing near Karere, the flood came very suddenly on the settlers at Jackeytown, and Mr Sharman was endeavoring to drive his horse and dray, containing his wife and family, away to a safer place, when the vehicle capsized, precipitating the unfortunate occupants into tlio water. Air Hharua<ni made some noble eflorts to save his family, diving twice under the cart to pull up his wife, and succeeded in saving her and two of the children, but the third — a little girl, aged three years — wtis washed away by tho strong current and drowned. The body was discovered yesterday morning jammed at tho " points " on the line close to the Jackeytown station. All the settlers along the line have sustained heavy losses. Of si flock of 000 sheep belonging, to Larkins, at tho bridge,, there Avere yesterday about 1-1 shivering on an island formed by the approach to the bridge. These were said to be the only survivors of the flock. Another settler named Alex. Cameron has had-all his stock, including some eighty head of cattle, washed away. This man is said to have lost everything he possessed. The Maoris have also lost a great deal in sheep, pigs, potatoes, Ac. besides having been driven out of their whares, situated on the west bank of the Oroua, which were completely covered by the water. The settlers and Maoris were all in good spirits yesterday, and appeared to think more of the loss of Mr Sharman'slittle girl than of their own troubles. The water was backed up on the Douglas Block considerably, and from a view our reporter obtained from a high hill, the water could be seen all round Mr Poole's property, but no danger was apprehended. Those settlers who were not flooded out did all they could for their less fortunate fellows, and Mr W. Simpson had a dozen of the strangers at his place, besides supplying bread, &c, to several other houses. It is impossible, at present, to see how much damage has been done to the permanent way. Mr Stewart anticipates this will not be great, and it is hoped that by the end of the week the through traffic will be resumed. This flood is the highest known for many years, the water rising a , foot higher than the great flood of / 1874. ' y