THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9000, 13 March 1888, Page 5

THE FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

FATAL LANDSLIP. GREAT DAMAGE DONE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Westport, Monday. The Buller Road is completely wrecked. It is estimated that it will be three months before it is open for wheel traffic. A surfaceman named O'Brien was killed by a landslip. Telegraphic communication has been temporarily restored. As further information comes to hand, it is made evident that a great disaster has befallen tho district as the result of the storm on Thursday morning. The party who first came through the Buller Road after the mishap had a terrible journey, and report that tho road is almost completely destroyed. In many places it has gone bodily into tho river, and slips from the hillside are innumerable. The Little Ohika Bridge has been carried away, the Hawke's Craig Bridge is just hanging, and others are badly damaged. Some who travelled over the country before the road was constructed say the journey now ie much more difficult than it was then. The rain was severely felt at Osborne's accommodation house. A portion of the house was smashed by the rush of water, and the hall and stables were carried away, with the harness, horse-feed, etc. The stableman and horses narrowly escaped. O'Brien, the surfaceman, who was at Little Ohika, was smothered by a slip while he was in bed. A boat has been sent up to bring down his body. At Files Creek, in this district, a miner's house and property were entirely washed away. He just succeeded in escaping from bed and climbing a tree. With respect to tho Buller Road,.' the county chairman is awaiting a report from the engineer, which he will lay before a Government officer to be appointed. The damage to the main up-country road by the storm of Thursday last is so great that it is estimated an expenditure of £5000 will be necessary k Later. Tho Westport county engineer estimates £4570 as the cost of repairing the Buller Road. There are 116 slips in 13 miles, and five bridges either injured or carried away, besides tne road being carried away in 17 places.