Destructive Gale.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5202, 8 February 1892, Page 3

Destructive Gale.

GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. The rain, which has been hanging about for some days, began to fall about midnight on Satuiday, accompanied by a stiff gusty wind from the nor'-east. Rain fell incessantly with varying force throughout the night and yesterday morning. At noon the wind began to increase, and by four o'clock in the afternoon had increased to a severe gale. Rain continued to fall in torrents. About midnight last night there was a lull in the rain, but only of short duration, and the storm continued throughout the night. This morning both wind and rain had moderated slightly. Locally, in the town, very little serious damage has been done. The roads, especially on the steep grades, have had the road metal scoured out, and considerable expense will be necessitated in repairs. Opposite the Northern Hotel the water was unable to get away, and poured down Wansbeck-street, forming a flood at the foot of the hill. The cellar of the Northern Hotel was flooded, and the proprietor's stock suffered to the extent of LlO or Lls, there being six feet of water in the cellar. Mr Ferris' orchard at the North Road, along with most people's gardens, has suffered severely, and, lying low, as it does, is partially flooded. The weak points in most of the j residents' houses have been found out by the penetrating rain, and the town presents a very forlorn appearance. The creek, it is satisfactory to notice, has broken an outlet through the shingle, and is receiving a thorough scouring. In the harbor the shipping ranged a little, owing to the tremendous sea rolling in and breaking over the breakwater, but the ships were quicklyseen to by Captain Sewell and are lying quite safely. Several fishing boats have sunk, being swamped by the heavy rain. The Captain of the West Australian was in Tiniaru yesterday, and noticing the force of the stale there —the water breaking 18 or 20 feet over the breakwater —he procured a bugzy and drove down to Oamaru fearing for the safety of his vessel, only to find on arrival that she was lying as snugly as if in dock. Reports from the country give details of a sad damage to the crops and destruction of property generally. The crops in the district were mostly in stook and it is impossible to estimate the amount of damage, which will probably be considerable. It is satisfactory to remember, however, that damage from rain to crops in stook is not so likely to occur now, as it was prior to the introduction of the reapeijgjpd binder. When the sheaves were tied with wisps, and undue moisture came, the result was that the grain in the wisps sprouted at the knot and spoilt the whole sample. Besides, the tying not being so secure, the grain in the sheaves often became damaged also. Now that the grain is tied with twine or wire the water runs off. The rainfall in the town was almost unprecedented. Up to mid-day yesterday 1-4:8 inches had fallen, and a further 2 "96 was registered by Mr Dowling's (Bank of New Zealand) gauge up to 10 a.m. to-day, making a total of 4.44 inches for 34 hours, and this has been since considerably increased. It is worthy of notice as a curious coincidence that the great flood of 1866—the time of the Totara disaster — occurred on the Bth and 9th of February. NGAPARA. News from Ngapara states that the rain was tremendously heavy there, between five and six inches being registered. The crop in the district is nearly all in stook, and is much damaged. The railway line has been washed away at the 14-mile peg—a mile this side of Ngapara. The bridge is passable, but all the creeks are impassable. The Teaneraki township is in flood. The aiareka flats are flooded in patches, and the grain in many places is standing in the water. KUROW AND DUNTROON. The storm at Kuuow was very violent. The Waitaki is in high flood, and the Hakateramea Bridge lias been washed away in the centre, the earthwork having all none. The Hakateramea district is thus completely cut off from communication, save by way of Waitaki North and the north bank of the river. The Maerewhenua Bridge at Duntroon is down for two-thirds of its length and the railway line is washed away for a considerable distance. The train to Kurow this morning could not get further than opposite the intake of the race. All above this was a sea of water. Our correspondent wires: "There is a great flood in the Maerewhenua. Both bridges are gone. The whole flat is submerged. One family (Corrigals) were rescued this morning with great difficulty. There are no casualties. Much damage has been done to the crops and property on the river flat. THE SOUTH LINE. The Kakanui River is in high flood, and fears are entertained for the safety of the railway bridge. A ballast train and gang have left for the bridge, and it is hoped that communication —which is at present interrupted—will be restored today. The river is out on the Reidston flats, and news has been received that a number of people are cut off from shore and in jeopardy. A special train was sent away at 9.20, taking a boat to effect a rescue. The Mayor and Sergeants O'Grady and Dwyer, together with a number of men from the harbor staff, went with the train to lend assistance. The Kakanui is a boiling, turbid, yellow flood, from half-a-mile to a mile wide. Nothing like it has been seen for years. The water is 4ft. deep in the fellmongery, store, and houses. Mr D. Hay's family were rescued with difficulty from the old mill. A number of butchers at the Refrigerating Works are still imprisoned in meat vans in the Island Stream. The water is washing over the floors. Mr D. Hay remained in the mill, refusing to come away with his family. There is no danger for the building. An attempt was made to rescue the butchers by lowering a boat from the Island Bridge with a rope. The boat reached one van safely, and five men boarded her, but through some mischance she capsized at once and all were precipitated into the water. Four regained the van, but the fifth was swept down the stream. After a desperate struggle, he managed to reach a portion of an old fence which 'is still standing, and remains there at present. The work of rescue is still going on, and as the river is falling rapidly, the men are no longer in danger. 400 sheep which were in a paddock for freezing purposes were washed away and drowned and hundreds of others are being swept down to the sea. A few cattle have also been lost. Tons of grain are floating down and the loss tofarmers on the upper reaches of the river must have been enormous. Two reapers and binders were washed away from a farm up the river. Sheep and cattle are dotted about on isolated islands in the flood. The river is falling at the rate of two feet per hour. The boat with which rescue was being effected has been stranded and a man who swam out to her reached her in an exhausted condition. It is understood that she has been stove in by a post. The approach to the old Kakanui bridge has been washed away. The railway bridge is considered unsafe for traffic, and passengers from the express will have to be transhipped and cross the bridge to another train. They will have to tranship at Waihao again. The lagoons in the Totara estate are all full and the Waiareka stream is in high flood. The approach to the Waiauakarua bridge is unsafe and the express has been detained and cannot get through. ,

THE NORTH LINE. It is rumored tliafc the line is washed away near Waihao. The train the North had not arrived ac time of writing (3 o'clock). (Br telegraph.) PALMERSTON. (from our own correspondent.) February 8. There is the largest flood in the Shag River that has ever been known, and it is still rising. I am not able at present to estimate the damage, which must, however, amount to some thousands of pounds. Crops on the lower levels have been entirely washed away and out to sea. The express train, with the Governor on Doard, has just returned, as it could not cross the Shag River. There is no communication by rail from the north, nor can the mails leave for up country either by coach or horseback. There is no sign of the weather clearing UPDUNEDIN. February 7. Rain set in early this morning, and has continued with scarcely any intermission for the whole day. The crops, it is feared, will be seriously damaged. February 8. Rain fell heavily, continuing all yesterday. Considerable damage is done to gardens and fruit. The Leith is higher than it has been for years, but no damage to property on its banks is reported. Walter Swanson was drowned in a paddock near Outram while he was endeavoring to remove horses to a place of safety. The river is rising. There are no trains from the north, south, or the Otago Central. The crops all over the Taieri Plain are laid down. The approaches to Silverstream Bridge are washed away, and there is no communication with Outram via Mosgiel. The Taieri is rapidly rising, the water being within a few inches" of the top of the embankment, but there is no breach yet. Live stock are being removed to the hills. Houses in the bush near Mosgiel are flooded. The bowling tournament is stopped. It is still raining. CHRISTCHURCH. February 8. The phenomenal rainfall in Canterbury on Thursday and Friday, and again on Sunday, excites serious fears for the crops in stook and standing. It is now fine but threatening. TIMARU. February 8. There has been 30 hours heavy rain, with a driving easterly gale. It is feared much damage has been done to crops in South Canterbury the most of which are in stook. The rain and wind ceased this morning and it is now cloudy and hot. A mountainous sea is running on the coast. The New Zealand Shipping Company's barque Irene, ready for sea, wool laden, broke the ring of a mooring buoy, about 2 a.m., and was drifted by the gale to the shore side of the harbor and was on the bottom some hours before she was towed back. There is no ascertainable damage. The Irene is making no water and is believed to be undamaged. The rivers are all in high flood and much of the lowlands is under water and there is a washout at Waihao, on the main line. The sea is still heavy and more rain is threatened.