THE FLOODS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2587, 23 May 1870, Page 3

THE FLOODS.

There is now a deep hole on the spot where the southern approach to the Waikouaiti bridge once stood. Another span will also be required for the bridge itself. The toll bridge on the Main North Road has been impassable during the last two days. The bridge at Flax Swamp is slightly injured. Two bridges beyond Young's are impassable. All the bridges, however, with the exception of the Waikouaiti bridges, will within four days be repaired so as to be passable. Our Green Island correspondent writes as follows:— "Oneof the largest floods that has been, experienced since the settlement of the district, took place on Thursday night. Several of the houses in proximity to the river were flooded, compelling the iamatea to seek shelter in other places. The extent of damage done is very considerable. The mill dam, which was constructed so as to resist the strongest current, was carried away, entailing a considerable loss upon the proprietor, Mr James Runciman. Three foot bridges which were erected at considerable expense, and which had resisted the currents successfully on other occasions, were swept away along the course of the Kaikorai. The water inundated a large extent of land^ It haa been observed that the Kaikorai river now rises higher in flood times than it did previous to the extension of cultivation. The losses altogether can not be less than L 200."

An Outram correspondent writes as follows : —" We are again inundated with water. Our little township, except a small strip along the main road, is covered with water, and the plain below, as far as Mr J. Allen's farm, is one great lake. The water is within five inches of being as high as it was in January last. The approach to the West Taieri Bridge is again washed away, and intercourse with the other side for the present is stopped, unless by boat. Were it not for the service of a young man commonly called ' Bill the Boatman,' on occasions of this kind, some of us might be left in a very awkward position. This young man deserves some substantial token from the settlers of this district for the many times he has responded to the call for assistance with his boat. I trust the Government will lose no time in repairing the damage done to the bridge." :

Another correspondent, writing: on Saturday, says :—" The flood has to-day fallen a good deal, so that the WestTaieri is now nearly clear of water except in a few places. On this side of the plain, however, the water is from the lagoon across to the hill foot and down to the Taieri river, on the farms of Mr W. Miller and Mr John Kirkland. Mr Anderson's house stands like an ark in the water ; there is not a vestige of dry land about the house and around several others as well! The flood still keeps falling, but very slowly, as the body of water is very great. The cut in the river bank is the primary cause of the water lying on the ground. The Silver has fallen a good deal, but is still in high flood. The other smaller creeks have also fallen."

At Moeraki the flood was greater than any previous one. The Trotter's Creek Bridge was entirely under water at two o'clock on Friday morning, but the water has since been falling. The bridge appears all right as far as can be seen. A considerable portion of the fencing and garden and farm produce upon the farms near the creek was washed away down on to the seaTbeach and washed back again by the surf.; The water made a clean breach over the main road. We have been informed that at least three bridges in this district have been partly or wholly washed away. The schooner Anne has been riding at the inner anchorage during the last two days. The sea in the Bay has been very heavy. !