HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5355, 15 January 1879, Page 2

HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

[per "herald"' special wire.] Chkistcuurc?, Tuesday. Heavy rain during the whole night has been general throughout the district. As was anticipated by many, the ballasting on some of the lines of railway has been washed away. Should no moderation take place before afternoon, and the north-west wind set in heavier, the probability is that traffic will □gain be interrupted on the south lines. Information from Ashburton was receive 1 at 12.20 that the south express train had run on to North Rangittta. The line was damaged between Rangitata and South Raogitata, and at several other places the water was flowing over the line. Up to 2 p.m. the express train, which was due at I Timaru at 12.52, had not reached there, aud it is thought the train must have been stuckup at North Kangitata Bridge. No particu iars were to haud up to the time of our going to press of the R:in«jit ita having risen. It is expected, however, that the Orari is up, and that the water has rushed alonq the line, breaking through in places. -The middle train got through all right, and was in no way interrupted. On the north line, at 10.3® a.m., a telegram was received from Southbridge, saying it wa3 raining heavily, aud the water was all along that branch line, and was runuiug three inches over the rails near Hall's road. Platelayers were stitioned along the line, and the train had been compelled to stop twice. No damage had been done so far, but if the rain continued, it was feared that some would be. We have since received ' the following message :—"2.15 p.m. —Been raining heavily for the last 20 hours. The south line is damaged about lialf-a-mile south of Liakaia. The ballasting was washed away for six chaius, caused through the works of the Rakaia and Ashburton forks railway damming back the storm water, which burst and s'vept away the south lines ; traffic has been stopped since. The Duuedin train passed south this morning. Men were sent from Ashburton to repair, and expect to have traffic resumed to night." The Dunedin express got in to-night only eighteen minutes late. No damage, so far as is known as yet, has been done to the Northern line.