THE FLOOD AT CHURCHILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13391, 21 January 1907, Page 6

THE FLOOD AT CHURCHILL.

NARROW ESCAPE OF Mo'l HER

AND FAMILY

About 12 miles from Mercer the settlement of Churchill is icaehed. situated on the western bank. The settlement itself, though huge" than Orton. is all. bit it boasted of .1 post office and store, ami ,1 good back country population. There are rlji swamps about here, and in consequence, there is a great spread of water, especially on the eastern side. [; is here that Me.'srs <;-bbs Bros.' fi.-ixmitl is erected. A lot 01 tl x had been deah with this season, and in fact the mill was working until midnight tin- day before the wafer readied tiio mill. Fortunately, however, 1:0 time was lost in getting the fibre away, and in consequence, when the water began to rush through the shed there was \;ry little to be washed away. The building i-- threeparts covered and still standing securely against a. strouc' cuneir?. The tu'al damage i- estimated at about £150. Tiie settlement is -covered with water, fiat in ail cases, it is understood, furniture and effects were removed in time, ami consequently all saved. With the exception of one family, all the p.'ople got away to Auckland, of sought accommodation on the higher hand a, verv short distance away. The post office and store kept by Hamilton Bros, is little more tin half covered with water, and th' re is 7ft of water in fiont nt their premises. The greater portion of their stock of goods was stacked in the upper portion of their store arid a galvanised iron shed, and are so fatsafe, with every likelihood of remaining so, unless the buildings are disturbed by the current, but the water til. this point is not likely to rise higher. The Chun hill co-operative daily factory, a little above the settlement, is elected on an eminence, and has not been touched by the flood water.-. The factory has been'working all the time, though the supply ha- been naturally short. This building is perfectly safe. A quantity of fibre and wool from the mills and surrounding country is also stocked in front of the factory.

One of those thrilling rescues of a woman and family hi a desperate t»ositicjn which are associated with most floods occurred at Churchill a few davs ago. A woman who bed only been confined a week, and was in ,1 weak condition, remained in her house while others shifted to more secure quarters. The woman, with her husband and family, remained in the house with the wafer rushing round it. believing they were not putting themselves in serious danger up till early on Friday morning. The. water rwe rapidly for a short time. and soon Hooded the bouse to the depth of a foot. Their serious plight was fortunately quickly noticed by the'Gihbs brothers, who made at once for" the house in their motor launch, and after rescuing all the inmates, secured the larger put of the household effects.