THE WEATHER DOWN SOUTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 2

THE WEATHER DOWN SOUTH.

SERIOUS FLOODS.

(PER PRESS; ASSOCIATION.) ' . j . - Dunedin, August 10. Rain fell almost continuously to/d ay, and still continues, Several slips occurred on the North line yesterday, but they, were all cleared away without causing much delay in the traffio, tse North express being only 10 minutes late. A large slip has taken place on the Dunedin si !e of Chain Hills tunnel on the South line, and it is feared that communication will be cut off. The warm rain threatens to bring down disastrous floods on the Taieri Plain. The river is already very high, being" right over the Outram branch line, and* as the rain has set in at: Naseby serious consequences are feared, as the accumulation of snow is very ,heavy. ■'■■■■ 1 ■ ' TimA.ru, August 12. ’ -

Rain has been, falling continuously here since Thursday afternoon, and all the rivers are how in a flooded state. The approaches to nearly all the road bridges have been swept away. - The south express was two hours and a half late reashing here on Saturday owing to a serious break at Pareora bridge, five miles north of St. Andrews. At this- bridge the passengers and mails had to be sent across by a trolly. Workmen are busy to-day repairing the damage, but as the river is; still rising the work is one of great difficulty. The sheep have Buffered terribly, in .the Mackenzie country, and the loss among the lambs on the low-lying lands will also be great. ; ■ Dunedin, August 11.

The railway authorities have had an anxious time of it during the past four weeks in trying to keep up the traffic. The rain which fell in the interior and melted the snow has given a fresh cause for anxiety. Though a drizzling rain fell ail day the North line, which has been the most troublesome hitherto, caused bub little trouble, and with the exception of the express all the trains were up to time, though bo>th the north and south express were stuck up at Pareora Bridge, which appears to be in an unsafe condition. The" passengers were, however, exchanged at Dunedin. They a-ie-expected to arrive about LI o’clock. /Matters on the southern lines are in. a serious condition. On theTaieri plain-bhe--line is insomO places under water to a depth of 4ft, and great damage has beendonetotheenabaukment. An attempt is being made to transfer the passengers- who went South by the -4 20 p m. train and those coming North by the express by means of a coach from Mosgiel to Greytown. It has sinoe been ascertained that there is sft of water on the main road, near Grey town, so the coaches will most likely have tog©-back. The Taieri rivor has overflowed its banks and ie spreading over the plains, and is bound to cause considerable damage. The farmers were busy all last Jriight and this morning removing their etock to high ground. Advices f>om central- Otago* however, indicate that the worst is'far from- being over, as the rain is still falling there, and the flood in the Taieri will probably be the worst experienced for over 20 years. The Elogburn and Kyeburn Rivers are in high flood, and damage baa been done to mining claims and; races. The coach to Naseby did not get through on Friday night, nor had' the mail reached there to-day, If the rain continu-ea, as it threatens to do” theTaieri Plain will be converted into a huge lake, and the loss will probably reach thousands of pounds. August 12.

The weather cleared up. for some hours last night, though rain- commenced to fall again this morning.and continued with tut little intermission-till 3 n’clock, when it cleared up again and continues. Advices to hand to-day indicate that the worst is over for the present. The Taieri river fell four inches at Outram last night, and though it rose again this morning, this afternoon it is going down again, and has fallen fully four inches at Middlemarch, The weather ap-pears-to' have cleared up in the-interior, and at Neuthorn the sun was shining to-day. The attempt made to transfer the passengers of the Southern express for Dunedin and the 410 train from Dunedin vvas not successful* and the onaohes had to turn back. Nothing is known yet as to the loss on the Taieri, nor the extent of damage to railways. In town no damage has occurred. -

Christchurch, August 11. The northern rivers are very high, but no serious damage is reported. Three small landslips at Weka Pass delayod the train from the North thhrmorning for two hours. The obstruction is now removed, August 12.

P.ain fell steadily-until 4 this afternoon, when it broke slightly. Ashley River is in heavy flood, and washed away a portion of the bank near Coldstream. A large area of land is seriously threatened, Flaxton was flooded last night by an overflow of the main drain, water coming into all the houses except one or two. -- v • Dunedin, August 13..

The railway line is still under water between Mosgiel and Waihora at places, and the passengers (North and South) have to be transferred from one; train to another by 'buses.. ' ' -- : . ; ,