THE FLOOD AT THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6297, 23 January 1882, Page 5

THE FLOOD AT THE THAMES.

+ [rKOU OUR OWN CORRRSFftNDKST.] Thamrj, Saturday. Last night I wired yoti tliat we were threatened with another flood here. ■On Thursday night, at about 10.30, it commenced to rain, and continued to do so very steadily until about 10 p.m. last night. The high tide last evening backed up the water caused by the heavy raiufall of the day, and from 7 to 9 p.m. the lower portions of Grahamstown were inundated. The Pacific corner where Brown and Albert streetscross each other was oae sheet of water, the floors of the adjacent buildings being, covered several inchee deep. But, high as the water rose last night, it was as nothing compared to what occurred this morning. As the rain ceased last night the wind, chopped round to the north-west;, from which quarter it blew very strong all night,, and at high water tlris morning it was blowing a perfect gale. The force of the wind packed up the waters of the gulf, and caused, an unusually high tide, Grahamtitown asusual suffering. In Brown-street every building from the Naval Hall to Mahoney's Hotel was flooded. In Albert-street, from Curtis' wharf to the Queen's Hotel, on the corner of Queen-street, the premises were similarly treated. The high tide of last mghthad warned some of what might be expected, and much had been done towards preparation, but the rise exceeded anticipations, and in many cases goods have been seriously injured. In Albert-street, Mr. James Marshall, draper, Messrs. bl. Brown. arid Company, corn and seed merchants, Osboruc Bros., general merchants, R. R. McGregor, and D. R. Gellion, have all suffered considerably. The Advertiser office was completely flooded also. In Brown-street the chief losers are G. McCaul, tinsmith and ironmonger ; J. Read,. timber merchant; C. Curtis, Pacific Hotel; the Wharf Hotel; McLiver, bookseller, and W. Mahoney. Numbers of others have suffered to a more or less extent. Fortunately the flood on this occasion is not accompanied by any serious deposit of mud, as was the case with the flood of July last, although in the opiniqn of some it rose higher. It was nearly noou before the streets were sufficiently free of water to allow of ordinary buoiiicas uvouatiuilg being resumed. Owing to the boisterous state of the weather the s.s. Kotoinaliana did not make her usaal trip to Auckland, indeed, so rough was it in the harbour about tide that she broke from her moorings, and it was only after some difficulty and the loas o£ several hawsers that she \vas> again got alongside the wharf. In the country districts the floods have been very high. The large waterrace has again suffered, but only to a slight extent. The country roads have, however, been considerably damaged. Bradley's coachcould not get through to Paeroa last night, and stopped at Hikutaia. On the other hand, the fresh in the Kawaeranga brought down, a large quantity of logs, and the Short land Sawmill Company have now a good supplyon hand.