THE GALE AND FLOODS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 769, 28 September 1878, Page 2

THE GALE AND FLOODS.

(From to-day's Timaru Herald.) We have very little farther news to psililish this morning relative to "Wednesday's gale in this district, and the floods in tiie river. The Rangitata had gone down considerably by yesterday morning, bat the bridge, ivh'eh was in the same state as on tiie previous day, was considered totally unsafe for passengers to walk over. A few plucky or rash individuals went acroas it during the dav. but the majority of

travellers elected to- remain -in Tiroaru, Mr. Jones, the District 'Station Mastsr, again proceeded. to tha river by the Srsj train yesterday, and was zaet thero hf several of 'the responsible officials from Curistchurch. Until the Sood entirely subsides it is quite impossible to say what will have to be done to the injured spans, but some weeks will in all probability ela'pse before the trains themselves can (Xoss. Of course, liyht goods and passengers may be conveyed across much earlier by means of trollies, but all heavy goods traffic will be entirely suspended. As regards the road bridge over the Rangitata, enquiries made yesterday resulted in our being informed that the north approach had almost completely disappeared, and the bridge itself at that side w&s shaken. The Arowhenua and Orari rivers, though still in flood, where nothing like so high as on Thursday. The latter has sontued away a good deal of its north bank near the railway bridge, and the former has eaten still further into thebank near Spillane's Hotel. The Rakaia was running bank and bank on Thursday evening, and fears were entertained for the safety of the approaches to the bridge, but these were almost unharmed yesterday morning. Ws take the following particulars, er Thursday's galo i:-. North, from ttv= - tf.rdav'» Press . At Ohaka the Oddfollowa' Hail vraj blown off its piles. At Rangiora part of the roof of a cottage near the CBt&b was taken away by the wind, and a chimney in High-street blown over. At Kaiapoi the wind was felt more than on the previous day. The Waimakariri came down- in heavy flood on Wednesday evening, the water rising rapidly from about 9 o'clock, and on Thursday morning the north road between the Courtenay Arms and Kaiapoi was Hooded. The overflow of the riveralso found a vent through the sandhill* towards Mrs. Stewart's land, and covered the railway with water to a depth of two feet for a length of two or three chains. Traffic along the line was stopped during the day, and arrangements made to run coaches. Thanks to the prompt action taken by Mr. M'Kenna, the Kaiapoi stationmasier, who, at some risk, drove a buggy through the llood on the north road to Chainey's, the mails and morning newspapers were put forward without any delay, and persons north of Chainey's have him alone to thank for being the means of forwarding the mails without delay, as no other arrangement had been entered into for their being sent 011. During Thursday, the ilood rose with the tide at raid-day, but subsided, and traffic will be restored as soon as possible. No apprehension of danger existed at Kaiapoi.. as the tlood was well within the embankThu encroachments made near Mr. Ellens »•; 01-works were of a threatenir,< paiur-?. 1" Is time the Government removed re use of so much injury tothis porli'.n of :hc borough. The 12.1S train from Amberley was met by the gale on the bridge, and the top 01 one of the carriages was lifted completely off and blown away to a considerable distance. The train was compelled to take shelter under the. lee of some gum trees, where it remained for some time. it then returned to Amberley, In;' made a fresh start, leaving for Chris.U:hurc-h at 5 o'clock last evening.'

At Lyttelton the gale continued blowing furiously all yesterday, but little or fio damage was done iii Lyttelton, except that several roofs were damaged and tweor three chimneys were blown down.