FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9710, 4 January 1895, Page 5

FLOODS IN THE SOUTH.

BLENHEIM INUNDATED.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE NELSON DISTRICT. [BI TRIiIGBAFH. —FKKSB ASSOCIATION.] Blenheim, Thursday. The highest flood experienced here for some years inundated the business portion 01 the town last night, and the country towards the sea for miles is under water. lb is feared great damage will have been done to crops. The rainfall since Tuesday has been phenomenal, Nelson, Thursday. , The floods in the country distriots are

most) distressing. In the Motupiako Valley the flood ia the highest on record. Gardens and crops hare been destroyed, sheep drowned, fences levelled, and much land washed away. Mr. Eugene O'Connor drove from the valley to-day in a Hghb sulky, but had to take the river bed in Norris Gully. The River Wai-Iti is also in the highest flood known. lb has overflowed and inundated the country. The VVaimea County Council has already given notice that the Motupiako cart bridge and the Belgrove and Wakefield-Pigeon Valley bridges are stopped for traffic till they can be repaired and the roads scoured in all directions. The approach on the Pigeon Valley side of the Oakfield bridge has been completely carried away at Motueka. In the Motupiako Valley the families of Mr. J. Steer and Mr. G. Sloss

had to be removed. Messrs. Gibbs and Mead tried to proceed with assistance to Mr. Ellis, but were washed down the stream. All escaped however. Mr. Fennimore tried to ride along the road to ronder assistance to the Wright's at Tadmor Ferry, but failed. The family was afterwards seen to be all right. Mr. W. Thomson's family left the accommodation house at Motupiako when the water was level with the table top. At Foxhill Mr. J. Stanton's family book refuge upstairs, but Mr. Morrison'B had to be removed. Mr. Hollis lost 1200 hills of hops, Mr. Nickolls 300, and Mr. B. .Lewis and Mr. G. Holland a great many, the land being washed away. Mr. Tomlinson, of VViamea West, and Mr. Winn, of Dovedale, had their land washed away. Mr. C. Best, of Appleby, lost seven acres of grass about to be cut and throughout that district and Waimea West the crops are levelled. Much stock has been drowned at Motueka. The country was submerged, and it was feared the river would make a new course through the township, &nd a quantity of barley and other crops was damaged. One horse was seen floating' out to sen, and drowned sheep were visible in the hedges. The Duller ooac'.i passengers were stuck at the Hope Junction accommodation house, and the passengers by the coach from Reofton at Longford. .