IN BROOK STREET VALLEY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 60, 19 March 1904, Page 2

IN BROOK STREET VALLEY.

a f — 3 This morning a visit was paid in B the direction of the Brook-street Valley, where the most damage appears to have been done by the 1 llootl, a fact amply demonstrated, t At the foot of Brook-street near „ the Nile-street bridge about a chain y of the road suffered severely. The fierce rushing of the Brook carved away a considerable quantity of 3 the street, and it is now blocked - for traffic. The repairing of this i road, it is estimated will cost between £200 and £300. One able to judge expressed the opinion that it would take about I'jOO loads of 1 gravel to fill in the gap\ • The Bronti-street bridge was i damaged and strained through a f walnut tree being hurled against it with terrific force, I The Convent grounds and fencing . were damaged considerably. Mr Ward, of Brook-st., lost hi"s dray, . bridge, which was carried down the stream for about a quarter of a 1 mile and hurled on to the Convent » grounds. A considerable portion I of earth from his property was also l washed away. Mr O'Connor's . bridge was also washed away, i Mr Tatton's place, Brookside, though immediately on the Brook, sustained no damage, and the tennis courts are safe. The Brook is now running into ■ the Convent grounds, which institution lost a number of fowls through the deluge. Other local citizens, it may be mentioned, also lost some of their feathered stock. The Post Oiliee letter box in Nilestreet, near Tas man-street, was destroyed !by the giale, but a new one will be erected in a few Hays. Much damage .has been demo to the crossings in the upper reaches of the Brook. At the Reservoir the sight is a magnificent one, the water bursting over the wall about two feet, and sending ,a beautiful column to the depths helow. At present there is about 20ft of water in the reservoir. The damage esti- 1 muted at the reservoir in loss of tools. plant, etc., washed away, amounts to £f>o or £70. The new wall erected has stood a marvellons test in every sense of the word amd redounds to the credit of Messrs Langlands and Co., who have the contract in hand. Tlw pressure of water against the new wall was 20 feet deep, but it stood it splendidly. Had the wall given way it would have mennt a loss of between £3000 and £4000.