THE FLOOD AT BLENHEIM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 212, 8 September 1896, Page 4

THE FLOOD AT BLENHEIM.

A TAYLOR RIVER VISITATION. Anyone taking a bird's eye viow of the lower portion of the Valley, saya a Marlborough paper, say from tho vantage point of a hill near the "Vernon Butts, would see an almost continuous sheet of water stretching over miles of country, broken only heie and there for a small space in localities enjoying a topographical prominence. The present flood— for afc the lime of publication it was still very much in evidence—is said by the "old residents " to he one of the largest inundations of its character that has yet visited the town — a veritable ''old man " Taylor outburst. It has the distinction of encroaching on places previously never even approached, and ifc attained a height which i 3 a record. Tho recent hoavy rains had a pronounced effect on the unsuspicious-looking little mountain stream, converting ifc into a torrent which, on Tuesday morning, streamed over its banks with an overwhelming rush. The water first spread over the Springlands district, then coming down High-3treet, aud afc 11 o'clock •narket fcquare and the streets of the town were completely covered. All day the water rose, reaching its highest point about midnight At five o'clock in the afternoon the flood was so high that on most of fche principal thoroughfares gum boots were useless as a protection, even fche tallest of pedestrians along Maxwell Road, Walter-street, Highstreet, and other streets, having io wade up to their waists ; and, later on, houses in low-lying spots were extremely difficult; of approach. A feature of the flood is its great velocity) indeed, the current was so strorg that in some places it was impossible to stand on one's feet, and ifc will no doubt be fonnd that the streets are much abraded, Fence*?, banks, and other obstacles were swept away, and there are Beiious erosions in many localities, The Walter-street footpath, near the Kiupiro Hotel, at a spot where the current was particularly concentrated, was eroded to such an extent that the asphalt and concrete are torn away, and there is a deep hole in the path extending many yards. The hotel was undermined at one corner, the piles being laid bare, and the tide peacefully bore away on its gentle bosom a ton or so of coal and other such min n tiro just as it would so many corks. Halifax-street also j received the brant uf the onslaught, and -was rendered entirely impassable. Very few of the residences in the precincts of the towu, excepting those in Manse i Boad and the immediato vicinity, escaped the entrance of the flood, and the shopkeepers and business' people "were on this occasion an almost unanimous body of companions in misfortune,

One or two of the business people succeeded in preventing the encroachment of the water into their premises by the wise precaution of boarding up their doorways and taking oiher watertight measures. Ono tradesman gained great kudos for his ingenuity in this respect. He built a timber barrier round his long veranda, with the result that he stood in a dry shop ani watched the waters outside rage at a height overtopping his floor. Kome objection was taken to this structure, on the allegation that it injured his neighbours, but he disarmed all opposition by obtaining a permit from the Borough Council. It is difficult to estimate now the amount of damage caused by the waters to tradesmen's stock, although, since the flood did not come exactly like a thief in the nigh 1 *, we do not suppose that as much harm was occcasioned. The flood invaded some of the shop windows, and in some instances where the goods were not removed to a sufficient height, loss would be sustained. Some merchants were unfortunate enough to have a quantity of flax and grain injured by the water. Business on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday was completely suspended, and the "Times" newspaper was not published on Wednesday and Thursday, nor the "Express" on the former day. This office, which is situated in one of the most elevated parts of the town, had over six inches of water inside, and the height of the water may also be gauged by the fact that it invaded the Government Buildings, which had always been looked npon as flood-proof, 'lhe tupreme Court had to beat a retreat to an upstairs room in the Buildings. Mud and slush, buckets and brooms — that is the order for to-day.

A large area of countiy which had been sown with seed has been swept clean, and losses of Bheep are reported from lUverlands and elsewhere. A flood at Tua Marina, caused by the overflow of the ma Marina and. Pukaki Kivers has worked a good deal of havoc with the farmers there. The Picton road for miles roand the swamp is described as being hidden by a porfect sheet of water, and the train was delayed by tho water on the line at Tua Marina. The Wairau River was very high. Fortunately, the Opawa Hiver kept well within itß limitß— fortunately, because an Opawa flood coming on top of the Taylor deluge would have been a serious matter, It is said that the Omaka overflow at Kenwicktown is also responsible lor a good deal of the mischief. The farmers at Springlands and Burleigh have suffered considerably, the water covering Mr Broughaui'B land, going as far as Mr Bißhell's, * t>. Leonards, and affecting many holdings on the Kenwiok roads. Jhe water from the Taylor flowed down the Omaka road, and Mr D. Draper's farm and others in that locality have been visited injuriously ; and at Grovetown, or the lower portion of prmg Creek, we understand, Mr Sutherland's land and other properties wero inundated. .*o strong was the Taylor current that the footbridge at Burleigh, a new structure, which cost a considerable sum of money, was snapped in the centre, and it is in a state of collapse. Traffic was interrupted for some time by an erosion to the approach of tbe High street bridge, and the footbridge across the stream near Vercoo's flaxmill was washed out of its place and is now lying across the road.

At the time of going to press the streets still presented their Venolian aspect, but the indications wero that they would soon begin to resume their natural appearance. The Flood at Tua Manna,

A. correspondent of our Picton contemporary wrote on Thursday as follows :— Thia place is simply inundated, Tbe whole of (he flat

grotm-1 is one immense lake. Fenoes, gorse hedges, and stumps are all hidden und^r the rttshing turbulent yellow stream. We sat up all Tuesday night * expeoting every minnte the water to come into the house, but luckily it began to fall before it quite reached us, And we are not the only ones you may be sure wlio sai up. All who had anything to lose spent an anxious time of it. The water rose at the rate of a foot an hour. The people in the neighbourhood of the Pukaki swamp are most to be pitied. Many of them have already sown their crops tbree times, and have had tbem rooted by floods, and now they must start and sow for a fourth tijne. The scene from | the high grouud is a very striking one. The road from Nolan's corner to the bridge is water-covered to the depth of a horse's knees. Opposite fche old schoolhouse it is 2ft. Gin. deep. Boats can be rowed from the railway station to the hotel. The school is accessible only to waders or fliers, and the water is over the railway line there, All day yesterday people were busy shifting cattle, sheep, horses, etc., to the higher paddocks of more fortunate neighbours. Several householders could nofc leave their houses this morning except by boat.