FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5498, 1 July 1879, Page 5

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

[by telegraph, press association.] Blenheim, Wednesday. The heaviest flood experienced for eome years occurred here on Saturday and Sunday. Almostthe whole to wn was under water, varying in depth from 6to 7 feet. There were no services in the churches yesterday except in the Catholic church, which ia situated on high land. To-day the town presents a deplorable appearance. Fences are down, footpaths washed away, and debris strewed about. It is reported that a number of shesp have been' drowned. On account of the flood the football match, Kelson v. Blenheim, to have come off today, is postponed until Wednesday. : DcKEDis, Monday. Rain has placed the railway bridge at Ontram in such an unsafe state that the authorities there have telegraphed to the district engineer for permission to be allowed to cut it away in the interest of their own safety. The approach to the Taieri Road Bridge has been washed away, consequently all communication with Outram is cut off. The settlers fully expected the Taieri River would overflow and inundate the township, but fortunately it subsided a little. At Okio the line is about six feet deep in water. The engineer tried to pilot the engine over but failed. The enginedriver was up to 11 o'clock this morning trying to get a surface trolly over, but without effect. Du>'El>i>-, Monday evening. Railway communication north and south is still interrupted, owing to the damage done to the line by floods. In the Taieri district the river is high, and considerable damage has been done. Christchurch, Monday. It commenced to rain again shortly alter midnight, and is now raining he?.vily. The damage to the province will ba enormous. »S Octram, Monday. There is every appearance of severe floods here in Taieri. The river is now about level with the town3hip, but is held back by an embankment It is raining now heavily aud incessantly.